PHOENIX – Attorney General Kris Mayes announced the sentencing of Victor Manuel Vargas to 15 years in the Arizona Department of Corrections on charges of illegally conducting an enterprise and possession of dangerous drugs for sale. Mr. Vargas was sentenced in Maricopa County Superior Court on January 7, 2025.
“It is a top priority to find and stop the criminal drug organizations bringing dangerous drugs to Arizona like the trafficking ring we brought to justice this week.” said Attorney General Kris Mayes. “My office continues to work in lockstep with local law enforcement and federal partners as we fight to take down criminal drug traffickers and stop the flow of fentanyl through our state.”
The sentencing follows an investigation by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Scottsdale Police Department. Throughout the operation, law enforcement officials seized approximately 142 pounds of methamphetamine, 53 pounds of fentanyl (equating to approximately 241,000 pills marked as oxycodone but laced with fentanyl), 3 pounds of cocaine, 1.5 pounds of heroin, $24,000 in cash, and a handgun.
Two co-defendants in the case remain pending trial. The case was handled by the Arizona Attorney General’s Drug and Racketeering Enforcement Section of the Criminal Division. A copy of the initial indictment is available here.
