A duo of drug traffickers have been slapped with serious time in federal prison for their roles in a scheme to import lethal drugs from Mexico into the heart of Metro-Atlanta, authorities announced Monday. Alba Ordoñez-Ordoñez, aged 43 from Honduras, was sentenced to 138 months behind bars, followed by five years of supervised release for her leadership in distributing disguised fentanyl and methamphetamine.
Operation Handoff, which saw the successful handover of justice was, according to U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan, a significant result of the continuous efforts to dismantle the venomous grip of drug trafficking. Buchanan stated that the sentencing "reflect the grave risks to public safety created by drug traffickers who disguise dangerous narcotics as legitimate medication." Buchanan swiftly credited the collaborative force of federal and local enforcement for the effort to keep communities safer from substances like fentanyl and methamphetamine.
Homeland Security Investigations Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony J. Patrone, whose oversight covers operations in both Georgia and Alabama, expressed, "HSI will continue to work with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to disrupt and dismantle these drug trafficking organizations and prevent them from flooding our communities with illicit drugs." In a collaboration that demonstrates unyielding vigilance, the agencies were together able to stop highly dangerous drugs from hitting the streets, hauling a load of poison out of our neighborhoods.
Unveiling the details of the conspiracy, authorities reported that a shipment from Mexico, camouflaged within an air conditioning unit, was seized with over two kilograms of methamphetamine powder stashed away. The meticulous ruse did not go unnoticed as diligent agents managed to orchestrate a controlled delivery to the intended address, where both Ordoñez-Ordoñez and her accomplice, Jose Guadalupe Canizales-Rivera, arrived to sign for the packaged deception. A search operation later uncovered a stash of over 700 grams of crystal meth as well as more than 4,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills that dangerously contained fentanyl. Amidst narcotics and paraphernalia within the walls of the residence, the sinister plot was laid bare—in direct view of the eyes of justice.
Canizales-Rivera, 33 and of Mexican nationality, was previously sentenced on August 9, 2022, to five years and three months in prison, to be followed by supervised release for a similar term. Exposed in their attempt to weave a deadly tapestry of addiction and deception, the duo now face the ramifications of a disrupted and dismantled operation. The case stands as a stern illustration of the consequences that await those who dare to traffic death within the guise of medicine.
The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, with pivotal assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The formidable efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Calvin A. Leipold, III and Rebeca M. Ojeda who spearheaded the prosecution cannot be overlooked as they were instrumental in bringing the traffickers to justice. This mission, vitally part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces Strike Force Initiative, exemplifies the unwavering commitment of various agencies working together to eradicate the plague of drugs threatening to engulf our communities.
For more details regarding the investigation and outcomes, the public is encouraged to contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office or visit their website for further information.
