Albert Anthony Rios, 32, from the District of Columbia and California, was sentenced to 135 months in federal prison for trafficking significant amounts of fentanyl shipped from California. The sentencing took place in U.S. District Court and was announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Rios admitted responsibility for distributing 8.5 kilograms of fentanyl and over a kilogram of cocaine. He pleaded guilty on September 3 before Judge Dabney L. Friedrich to one count of conspiracy to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl and cocaine. In addition to his prison sentence, he will serve five years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Pirro was joined in the announcement by DEA Special Agent in Charge Christopher C. Goumenis and FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox.
According to court documents, two packages sent from a FedEx facility in Monterrey Park, California on December 13, 2022, were addressed to “Martes Benito” on Congress Street SE in Washington D.C., but were flagged as suspicious by FedEx staff. The DEA recovered about 700 grams of fentanyl pills and 200 grams of cocaine from one package; the second package intercepted days later contained a kilogram of fentanyl pills.
Investigators used subpoenas for airline records and surveillance footage to identify two individuals who frequently traveled between Los Angeles and Washington D.C., shipping packages from Monterrey Park facilities that consistently contained fentanyl pills. Searches at their residences led agents to recover more narcotics, firearms, and large sums of cash.
Further investigation revealed that in July 2023, during an unrelated case, DEA agents arranged a drug purchase with Rios that included large quantities of fentanyl and cocaine. A search at Rios’ residence uncovered a kilo each of cocaine and fentanyl, around 15,000 fentanyl pills, and $23,000 in cash.
FBI agents connected Rios’ phone number with those involved in mailing narcotics shipments to D.C., leading them to execute another search warrant at his California home on February 7, 2024. They found approximately 1,000 additional fentanyl pills and an ounce of cocaine there. Examination of his cell phones revealed photos showing large quantities of fentanyl pills; authorities determined Rios’ conduct involved at least 8.425 kilograms of fentanyl and over a kilogram of cocaine.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA and FBI Washington Field Office with support from several local law enforcement agencies including the Virginia State Police, Montgomery County Police Department, Orange County Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Postal Inspection Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nihar Mohanty prosecuted the case.
"Albert Anthony Rios...was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 135 months in federal prison for trafficking large amounts of fentanyl that he had shipped to him from California," said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
