Clinton J. Johnson U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma
Two Mexican nationals were sentenced on Apr. 16 for working with a cartel to distribute fentanyl in the Tulsa area, according to U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
The sentencing highlights ongoing efforts by federal authorities to address drug trafficking and enhance community safety in northeastern Oklahoma, an area that includes Tulsa County and is covered by the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma according to its official website.
U.S. District Judge Rodney W. Sippel sentenced Ventura Rivera Arteaga, age 41, for Drug Conspiracy and Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. He received a sentence of 46 months imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release. Rivera Arteaga’s co-defendant, Ruben Amador Meza Medina, age 21, previously pleaded guilty to Drug Conspiracy in November 2025 and was also sentenced to 46 months' imprisonment with five years of supervised release.
Agents investigating fentanyl distribution executed a search warrant at an east Tulsa home where they found large quantities of fentanyl, over $25,000 in cash, digital scales, and cellphones. Both defendants admitted working together with others within the cartel to package and distribute fentanyl throughout Tulsa. Meza Medina told agents he came into the United States seeking employment but ended up distributing drugs instead; Rivera Arteaga joined him after entering the country unlawfully following his removal in 2024.
"Both defendants will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons and are expected to face removal proceedings after being released from prison," Johnson said.
The case was investigated by the Tulsa Police Department and Drug Enforcement Administration's Tulsa Resident Office while Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko Boulieris prosecuted it.
The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma enforces federal laws through impartial litigation and partnerships across its jurisdiction as outlined on its official website. The office employs more than 65 Assistant United States Attorneys who collaborate with law enforcement agencies to fulfill its mission.
