A Mexican national, Marcos Monarrez-Mendoza, has pleaded guilty in a Pittsburgh federal court to charges of violating the federal "Kingpin" statute and money laundering. The plea was announced by Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti on July 8, 2025.
Monarrez-Mendoza, aged 55 and residing illegally in Phoenix, Arizona, admitted his role before United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan. He was among 35 individuals charged in January 2024 with participating in a large-scale narcotics and money laundering conspiracy involving fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine.
The court learned that from September to November 2022, Monarrez-Mendoza co-led the Phoenix-based Monarrez Drug Trafficking Organization with his son. They were intercepted via federal wiretap acquiring drugs from a Mexican supplier. These substances were distributed across the country, including western Pennsylvania. Additionally, over $100,000 from drug sales was sent to Mexico to support their operations.
Sentencing is set for December 5, 2025. The law stipulates a minimum sentence of 20 years up to life imprisonment and a possible fine of $2 million. The final sentence will consider the severity of the crimes and any prior criminal history.
Assistant United States Attorneys Arnold P. Bernard Jr. and Tonya S. Goodman are handling the prosecution.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigation as part of Operation Take Back America—a Department of Justice initiative targeting cartels and transnational criminal organizations through its Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
