Three Honduran Nationals Sentenced in Charlotte for Fentanyl Trafficking as Part of 'Operation Take Back America'

Three Honduran nationals have been sentenced for their roles in a fentanyl trafficking operation, according to a statement from U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, Russ Ferguson. Javier Avila-Rivas, 24; Christian Josue Campos, 22; and Jefry Adalberto Martinez-Romero, 19, received prison sentences for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute significant quantities of fentanyl.

The investigation that led to their arrest spanned from August to September 2024, and involved the defendants selling fentanyl to undercover officers multiple times. During a September 5, 2024 encounter, law enforcement seized over 1.9 kilograms of fentanyl from a vehicle occupied by Avila and Martinez, including a distinctive form of the substance known as "purple fentanyl," firearms, ammunition, and other items related to the drug trade. Avila Rivas will face 10 years in prison, with five years supervised release, whereas Campos is set for a five-year sentence followed by four years of supervised release, and Martinez, like Avila, will serve a 10-year term with five years of supervised release.

The prosecution of these individuals is a part of the broader initiative called Operation Take Back America, which targets the dismantling of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and aims to address illegal immigration and violence in communities. In expressing gratitude for the successful efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department, U.S. Attorney Ferguson emphasized the collaborative nature of the investigation. The cases were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alfredo De La Rosa of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte. Upon designation of a federal facility, the convicted men will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons.