A Seattle resident, Bryce Hill, has been sentenced to 35 years in federal prison for his involvement in a transnational drug trafficking organization, according to an announcement by United States Attorney Troy Rivetti. Hill will also serve five years of supervised release following his prison term.
Hill, age 28, was convicted by a jury in September 2025 after a two-and-a-half-week trial. The conviction is part of a larger case involving 35 individuals who were charged in January 2024 with participating in a domestic and international conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine. The charges also included money laundering activities linked to the organization.
The Monarrez Drug Trafficking Organization, based in Phoenix, was identified as responsible for distributing millions of fentanyl pills along with large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine between August 2021 and June 2023. Evidence presented at trial showed that Hill played a key role within the group. According to prosecutors, he was recorded via federal wiretap arranging the acquisition and redistribution of hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills and kilograms of fentanyl powder.
During the investigation, law enforcement executed a search warrant on Hill’s Seattle apartment on January 11, 2023. Authorities seized 27 kilograms of fentanyl pills, multiple firearms, and $387,000 in cash from the residence. On December 25, 2022, police searched a rental property in Scottsdale, Arizona associated with the organization and confiscated additional drugs: 28 kilograms of fentanyl pills, 7.5 kilograms of fentanyl powder, three kilograms of cocaine, 48 kilograms of methamphetamine, as well as 20 firearms.
The jury found that Hill conspired with others to distribute or possess with intent to distribute at least five kilograms of cocaine, more than 400 grams of fentanyl, and over 500 grams of methamphetamine across western Pennsylvania and other locations.
Hill’s sentencing follows those imposed on 32 co-defendants connected to the same case.
Assistant United States Attorneys Arnold P. Bernard Jr. and Katherine C. Jordan prosecuted the case for the government.
United States Attorney Rivetti praised several agencies for their work on this investigation: “I commend the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Laurel Highlands Resident Agency and Homeland Security Investigations for their efforts leading to this prosecution.” He added that additional support came from the Internal Revenue Service–Criminal Investigation unit; United States Postal Inspection Service; local law enforcement agencies; and police departments including Scottsdale Police Department.
The prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide effort led by the Department of Justice aimed at dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations through coordinated resources from programs such as Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
