Jose Ramon Lopez, a 30-year-old resident of Yuma, Arizona, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. The sentencing was announced by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
Lopez’s case began on May 2, 2021, when he was stopped by an Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper on Interstate 40 in Sequoyah County. Authorities found over 5,000 counterfeit OxyContin pills containing a total of 562 grams of fentanyl during the traffic stop. Lopez was initially arrested and charged in Sequoyah County District Court but later posted bond and fled to Mexico.
In February 2022, federal authorities indicted Lopez. He was apprehended by U.S. Marshals on December 30, 2024, at a port of entry into Arizona and returned to Oklahoma to face federal charges. On August 4, 2025, Lopez pleaded guilty in federal district court.
The investigation involved the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP), and the United States Marshals Service.
United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson stated: “This sentence is a warning to those who threaten the safety and peace of our streets by trafficking in illicit drugs. The Department of Justice is proud to stand side by side with state, local, and Tribal law enforcement to defend our communities.”
Joseph B. Tucker, DEA Special Agent in Charge of the Dallas Division said: “Drug dealers manufacture and traffic counterfeit pills which look like alprazolam, hydrocodone, or oxycodone but can contain lethal doses of fentanyl. Mr. Lopez was one of those dealers. This sentence reflects our continued resolve to partner with our law-enforcement counterparts to fight greed, violence, and substance abuse in Eastern Oklahoma communities.”
Colonel Joe Williams, Chief of OHP added: “The Oklahoma Highway Patrol is proud of the work our troopers conducted in this case. It underscores our commitment to our most important mission, keeping Oklahomans safe. Fentanyl is an extremely dangerous drug and even a small amount can be deadly. Like all states, we have seen the tragedy that results from this deadly drug. Justice has finally caught up with Jose Ramon Lopez, and this case highlights the importance of strong cooperation with our federal partners in disrupting drug trafficking and protecting our communities. We appreciate the diligent work of the prosecution and thank the court for its careful handling of this case. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol remains committed to continued collaboration with our federal partners to keep Oklahoma safe.”
The prosecution noted that this effort falls under Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative aimed at using Department of Justice resources against illegal immigration as well as targeting cartels and transnational criminal organizations.
Senior Judge Ronald A. White presided over Lopez’s sentencing hearing at the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma. Lopez will remain in U.S. Marshals custody until he is transferred to a Bureau of Prisons facility for his non-paroleable sentence.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia Staubus represented the government at sentencing.
