A federal jury has recently convicted a Davenport man for his role in fentanyl trafficking. Jose David Figueroa Pacheco, aged 33, potentially faces a significant amount of time in federal prison, with a minimum sentence of 5 years and a possibility of up to 40 years. His sentence is pending and scheduled to be decided on August 27. This information comes from a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Figueroa Pacheco and co-defendant Alberto Ismael Salinas Valencia were jointly indicted on charges relating to narcotics and firearms trafficking as of August 7, 2024. Salinas Valencia has since pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison this January. The ensuing investigation, which spanned a year, was a collaborative effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, setting out to diligently identify and apprehend individuals involved in illegal drug and weapons trade.
The evidence brought against Figueroa Pacheco included details from an undercover operation conducted on December 13, 2023. According to this evidence, an undercover officer was able to arrange a buy for a firearm and fentanyl pills from Salinas Valencia, with Figueroa Pacheco allegedly coordinating the fentanyl pill delivery and making pertinent phone calls during this transaction. The transaction occurred with Figueroa Pacheco driving Salinas Valencia to the specified buy location, as detailed in the press release.
Assistant United States Attorneys Richard Varadan and Risha Asokan led the prosecution, aiming to ensure that the weight of the law is brought down on those proven to participate in the illicit drug trade. Victims of the opioid epidemic hope to see justice served as part of a larger effort to staunch the flow of this lethal substance.
