Ali M. Summers Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois | U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois
A California man has been sentenced to 19 years in federal prison for trafficking fentanyl into the Metro East area. Nefer Ojeda-Elenes, 33, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and distribution charges related to the controlled substance.
"Fentanyl is a ruthless killer—devastating families, shattering communities and leaving a trail of grief in its wake," stated U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. He noted that Ojeda-Elenes conspired to bring seven kilograms of fentanyl into the region, emphasizing that "as few as two milligrams is lethal to most adults."
Court documents revealed that Ojeda-Elenes was involved in delivering two kilograms of fentanyl in April 2020 and planned an additional five kilograms in May 2020. However, law enforcement intercepted the drugs before they reached Illinois.
DEA St. Louis Division Special Agent in Charge Michael Davis commented on the case: "Nefer Ojeda-Elenes attempted to introduce more than half-a-million lethal doses of fentanyl into our Southern Illinois communities in just a short, three-month span." He highlighted the lethality of fentanyl, stating that "a mere two milligrams is enough to take a life."
The investigation is being led by DEA St. Louis with Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Carraway prosecuting the case.
Co-conspirator Mariano A. Perez, 39, also from California, faces similar charges and is scheduled for a court appearance on March 20.
It is important to note that an indictment serves as a formal charge against a defendant who remains presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
