https://news3lv.com/news/local/north-las-vegas-man-pleads-guilty-to-leading-major-drug-trafficking-ring-in-oregon

Luis Antonio Beltran Arredondo, a 35-year-old Mexican national unlawfully residing in North Las Vegas, Nevada, pleaded guilty on Monday to charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute heroin and fentanyl, as well as conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Court documents revealed that Arredondo was the leader of a drug trafficking organization based in Oregon, which distributed significant quantities of heroin and fentanyl in the Portland metro area.

Between October 2021 and January 2022, authorities seized over 52 pounds of heroin, more than 7 pounds of fentanyl pills, and nearly 6 pounds of methamphetamine from individuals, vehicles, and locations linked to Arredondo's organization.

Arredondo also conspired to launder $4.63 million by channeling drug trafficking proceeds through a beauty salon in Tualatin, Oregon.

The laundered money was used to purchase nine properties, which were then converted into income-generating rentals.

These properties have been forfeited to the United States and are currently being sold.

Arredondo faces a maximum sentence of life in prison, a $10 million fine, and five years of supervised release.

His sentencing is scheduled for August 18 before U.S. District Court Judge Michael Simon.

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) with assistance from the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS: CI), Tigard Police Department, and the Oregon State Police.

The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.

This case was part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) initiative, which aims to identify, disrupt, and dismantle high-level criminal organizations that pose a threat to the United States through a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.