Multiple U.S. Men Sentenced Up to 22 Years in Federal Fentanyl Conspiracies

Several individuals across the U.S. have recently been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in fentanyl trafficking conspiracies, highlighting ongoing efforts to combat the opioid crisis. Martin Alonzo Peinado Torres, a 33-year-old man in Kent, Washington, received 22 months after authorities seized methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine from his home; he claimed coercion into trafficking after being lured under false pretenses. Jordan Shelton of Mexico, Missouri, was sentenced to 13 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl following a 2022 investigation that uncovered fentanyl powder and capsules at his residence. Clarence Nero from Atlanta was sentenced to 22 years for organizing a fentanyl trafficking ring that smuggled drugs across several states, part of the Department of Justice's Operation Take Back America. Tamarious "Poogi" Faulkner, a Texas resident and gang leader involved in distributing a distinctive crystalline form of colored fentanyl in Jackson County, Michigan, was sentenced to nearly 18 years, with authorities noting a subsequent decline in local overdoses and violent crime. These cases reflect coordinated federal and local law enforcement operations targeting fentanyl distribution networks amid a severe public health crisis.