Jefte Monell Diaz, a 28-year-old resident of Caguas, Puerto Rico, was sentenced on April 2 to five years in prison and four years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Chief U.S. District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps handed down the sentence.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by federal authorities to address drug trafficking and related criminal activity. According to court records, Diaz and his co-conspirators traveled from Tucson to Phoenix on July 1, 2024, with about 100 pounds of methamphetamine intended for delivery that evening. Diaz was indicted for his role in the conspiracy on August 21, 2024.
The investigation is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative created by Executive Order 14159. The HSTF aims to eliminate criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling operations within the United States and abroad through interagency collaboration.
Authorities said the HSTF directs extensive law enforcement resources toward investigating and prosecuting crimes committed by these organizations that contribute to violence and instability domestically. The task force also uses available legal tools to prosecute and remove violent criminal aliens from the country.
The investigation was led by HSTF Tucson with participation from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS). Assistant U.S. Attorney David Petermann prosecuted the case.
