Jefte Monell Diaz, a 28-year-old from Caguas, Puerto Rico, was sentenced on Apr. 2 to five years in prison and four years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Chief U.S. District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps issued the sentence.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by federal authorities to address drug trafficking and related crimes that impact communities across the United States.
According to court documents, Diaz and his co-conspirators traveled from Tucson to Phoenix on July 1, 2024, with about 100 pounds of methamphetamine intended for delivery that evening. He was indicted for his involvement in the conspiracy on Aug. 21, 2024.
The investigation was part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is described as a whole-of-government partnership focused on eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling operations both within the United States and abroad.
Authorities say that through interagency collaboration, HSTF uses all available law enforcement resources “towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations,” which have contributed to violence and instability inside U.S. borders. The task force also seeks “to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.” The investigation involved agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS), with Assistant U.S. Attorney David Petermann handling prosecution.
