Jose Antonio Ornelas, Jr., a 33-year-old resident of Tucson, was sentenced to 98 months in prison on July 10 by United States District Court Judge Rosemary Márquez. This sentence will be followed by four years of supervised release. Ornelas had previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
The charges stem from an incident on October 3, 2024, when Ornelas attempted to purchase methamphetamine for $2,250. When law enforcement intervened, he fled at high speed, ran a red light, and drove against traffic. He was later found at a nearby apartment complex with methamphetamine, fentanyl pills, a .45 caliber extended magazine, a drug ledger, and a scale.
This case is part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. The OCDETF aims to identify and dismantle high-level criminal organizations threatening the United States through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach. More information about the OCDETF Program is available at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Culver from the District of Arizona in Tucson managed the prosecution.
