19 Defendants Indicted In Multi-County Drug Trafficking Investigation

TUCSON -- Attorney General Mark Brnovich announced a State Grand Jury indicted 19 people for allegedly operating a multi-county drug trafficking organization. A more-than-year-long joint investigation between the Arizona Attorney General’s Office (AZAG) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) culminated this month when special operations from more than seven law enforcement agencies carried out multiple search warrants throughout Southern Arizona.

On January 9, 2019, agents from several law enforcement agencies simultaneously served multiple search warrants in Pima and Cochise Counties. Last Wednesday, a State Grand Jury returned two indictments against the 19 defendants spanning both Pima and Cochise Counties. Together, the indictments have 169 counts with charges that include RICO offenses for illegally conducting an enterprise and money laundering; drug related charges involving sales of methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, fentanyl, Oxycodone, and marijuana; misconduct involving weapons, tampering with physical evidence; and incidental charges for conspiracy and using  wire communications in drug related transactions. 

In Cochise County, Timothy Henry was arrested and charged with more than 19 counts stemming from a methamphetamine distribution ring that he allegedly controlled in Sierra Vista. The other nine individuals indicted in Cochise County are alleged mid-level methamphetamine distributors.

In Pima County, Francisco Ivan Osorio-Nava and Fabian Castro-Lopez are both Mexican nationals who were allegedly working directly for a Sinaloa, Mexico-based drug cartel in Tucson. The other eight defendants indicted in Pima County are also alleged mid-level drug distributors, selling methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl, and Oxycodone.

This was a joint investigation led by the DEA, Cochise County Sheriff’s Office, Douglas Police Department, Arizona Department of Public Safety, Sierra Vista Police Department, and Office of the Arizona Attorney General Special Investigations Section; with additional special operations support from Pima County Sheriff’s Office, Tucson Police Department, and the U.S. Border Patrol.   

Assistant Attorney General Jordan E. Emerson is prosecuting this case.

All charged individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Copy of indictment one.

Copy of indictment two.

Names of the Defendants:

  • Francisco Ivan Osorio-Nava
  • Fabian Castro-Lopez
  • Amanda Hope Serna
  • Beau James Gentry
  • David Matthew Bailey
  • Raymond Herbert Thacker
  • Karen Anne Schimmel
  • Eric Ernesto Lopez
  • Jesse Jonas Lee Valenzuela
  • Timothy Francis Henry
  • Jaime Rene Leza
  • Jesus Ernesto Loreto Jr.
  • Timothy Arthur Evicci
  • Jennifer Sue Phillips
  • Shalmarie Ann Tulk
  • Rebekah Leigh Fernandez
  • Jose Joaquin Pro
  • Christopher Alan Sulger
  • Leah Ann Ramsell

*Booking photographs were not available at the time of this release.