Three individuals from Pennsylvania, Washington, and Arizona were sentenced in federal court for their roles in a transnational drug trafficking organization. Another individual from Ohio pleaded guilty to related charges. The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti on May 30, 2025.
The defendants were among 35 people charged in a Second Superseding Indictment unsealed in January 2024. They were involved in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine both domestically and internationally.
United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan imposed the sentences as follows:
- James Pinkston, 34, of New Kensington, Pennsylvania, received a sentence of 220 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release.
- Alicia Parks, 26, of Kent, Washington, was sentenced to 84 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release.
- Marco Armenta, 24, of Phoenix, Arizona, received a sentence of 12 months and one day in prison followed by two years of supervised release.
The court was informed that between August 2021 and June 2023, Pinkston and Parks conspired to distribute large quantities of fentanyl and cocaine. Armenta's involvement occurred between August 2022 and January 2023 with fentanyl distribution. The operation involved using wiretaps to intercept communications about drug transactions.
Additionally, Diamond Williams-Dorsey, 32, of Cleveland, Ohio pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute fentanyl between July and August 2022. Her sentencing is scheduled for November 4, 2025.
This case falls under Operation Take Back America aimed at dismantling cartels and criminal organizations. Assistant United States Attorneys Arnold P. Bernard Jr. and Tonya S. Goodman prosecuted the case with investigative support from the FBI’s Laurel Highlands Resident Agency and Homeland Security Investigations among others.
