Mexican Citizens Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Heroin Trafficking

PHOENIX ? Alfonso Valdez-Cota, 24, and Kaven Alfonso Chavez-Aguirre, 25, both citizens of Mexico, were sentenced on June 29, 2009, by U.S. District Judge Neil V. Wake to five years in federal prison after both defendants pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Possess With the Intent to Distribute Heroin. A third co-defendant, Jesus Amaral-Samaniego, pleaded guilty to the same charge and is scheduled for sentencing on July 29, 2009.

Based on an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the three defendants were stopped by Glendale Police officers in November 2008. A search of the passenger compartment of their vehicle revealed a firearm concealed in the rear passenger seat area and two firearms in the trunk. Also found in the trunk were 10 small plastic wrapped ball shaped packages containing a total of 251.2 grams of a substance containing a detectable amount of heroin.

The investigation in this case was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Glendale Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Howard Sukenic, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.