Two men have been sentenced to federal prison for their involvement in a fentanyl distribution conspiracy in the Quad Cities area. Zachariah Terrell Ross, 27, from Davenport, Iowa, and Cristian Inostros-Aquino, 29, from Los Angeles, California, were implicated in distributing thousands of fentanyl pills between 2022 and 2023.
Court documents reveal that Inostros-Aquino shipped packages containing controlled substances from California to Ross in Iowa. During a search of Ross's residence, law enforcement found two loaded firearms. Text messages indicated discussions about purchasing a firearm from Inostros-Aquino. Additionally, Inostros-Aquino was found with a firearm in May 2022.
On May 6, 2025, Ross received a sentence of 108 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release. Inostros-Aquino was sentenced to 80 months in federal prison with the same period of supervised release thereafter. It is noted that there is no parole available within the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa announced the sentences. The investigation involved several agencies including the Bettendorf Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Scott County Sheriff’s Office, and Davenport Police Department.
Fentanyl remains a leading cause of drug overdose deaths in the United States. The DEA warns that counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl can contain lethal doses and encourages visiting their website for more information on fentanyl dangers through programs like "One Pill Can Kill."
This case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which aims to reduce violent crime and gun violence through community cooperation and strategic enforcement priorities. The initiative seeks to build trust within communities while supporting organizations that work towards preventing violence.
