A federal jury in Spokane, Washington, has found Luis Esquivel-Bolanos guilty on multiple drug trafficking and firearms charges. Esquivel-Bolanos, 45, from Guerrero, Mexico, was identified as a member of a drug trafficking organization supplying significant quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl to Eastern Washington and Central Montana, including Tribal lands.
The trial, presided over by United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice, began on April 14, 2025. The conviction follows extensive investigations by federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies. The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) played significant roles in identifying Esquivel-Bolanos as part of the organization which targeted several communities, including the Oroville area and the Colville Indian Reservation.
Acting U.S. Attorney Richard Barker, involved from the outset, highlighted the volume of drugs removed, describing it as "staggering" and one of the largest seizures in rural Washington. He commended the collaboration of the BIA, DEA, and other agencies for ending the group's threatening operations.
U.S. Attorney for Montana, Kurt Alme, expressed gratitude for the efforts to prosecute those bringing drugs into tribal communities. Deputy Associate Director Tom Atkinson of the BIA emphasized continued vigilance and cooperation among law enforcement agencies.
The investigation, supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program, saw agencies like the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, among others, work together. Twenty-seven other defendants were charged and convicted in a parallel prosecution handled by the District of Montana.
Esquivel-Bolanos, expected to be sentenced on July 16, 2025, faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and possible deportation.
