A federal judge has sentenced a criminal illegal alien who plotted to kill a Washington state police officer to 15 years in prison for her leadership role in a massive nationwide drug trafficking ring. Iris Adrianna Amador-Garcia arranged for the large-scale distribution of methamphetamine, fentanyl pills, and heroin across the United States. She also devised a plot to locate and kill a Centralia, WA, police officer after a large load of drugs was seized during a traffic stop.

Amador-Garcia, who has been unlawfully residing in California, sourced the illicit drug supply from family members in Mexico. Authorities said she co-led the Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO) alongside co-defendant Jose Alfredo Maldonado-Ramirez.

While handing down his sentence on Tuesday, US District Court Judge John Coughenour said, “Threats against law enforcement is a line in the sand that is completely unacceptable.”

According to a press release by the Department of Justice (DOJ), Amador-Garcia’s criminal enterprise first came under investigation in 2020 when law enforcement identified the leaders of the trafficking ring. The illicit narcotics were distributed to several large redistributors across all corners of the United States, including Washington, Illinois, New York, Massachusetts, Florida, Tennessee, Ohio, Virginia, and Arkansas.

On May 16, 2020, law enforcement seized nine pounds of methamphetamine during a traffic stop. Another 30 pounds of meth were seized on April 2, 2021, and 57 pounds of meth and 20,000 fentanyl pills were seized on September 28, 2021, both during traffic stops. On August 17, 2021, authorities seized 19 pounds of meth that conspirators attempted to mail to Fiji, according to the DOJ.

Courtesy: DOJ

Courtesy: DOJ

Upon the execution of a search warrant, federal agents seized a kilogram of fentanyl, 80,000 fentanyl pills, and two firearms at the home where Amador-Garcia was living with her brother and two co-conspirators. Additionally, eight firearms were seized at other search locations in Washington and California. 

“This criminal organization was well-organized, well-sourced, and well-connected. This defendant was prepared to take drastic measures to protect what she had built. She and her criminal associates were intercepted openly discussing killing an officer after a large shipment of drugs was seized,” said First Assistant US Attorney Floyd in a press release. “I am grateful for the diligent work of law enforcement to keep that officer safe, and to take these dangerous traffickers off the street and shut down their pipeline of devastating narcotics.”

Robert Saccone, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Seattle Field Division, said the lengthy prison sentence “sends a clear message that those who traffic fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other deadly drugs into our communities, and those who threaten violence against law enforcement, will be held accountable.”

He added, “Amador-Garcia led a far-reaching criminal organization that distributed dangerous narcotics across the country while sourcing drugs from Mexico and seeking to retaliate against an officer who disrupted the operation. Through DEA’s Fentanyl Free America, we are working every day to disrupt the fentanyl supply chain, reduce the availability of these deadly drugs, and save American lives.”

At least 16 individuals have been indicted in this case.