Hector Delacruz, 36, of the Bronx is headed to federal prison for decades after an Arizona jury found him guilty of trafficking methamphetamine. On Thursday, June 25, 2026, a judge in U.S. District Court in Phoenix handed down the sentence, wrapping up what federal prosecutors described as a multi-agency probe into large meth shipments tied to the Phoenix area.
Sentence and conviction
A federal jury convicted Delacruz in October 2025 of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. At sentencing, the judge stacked a 25-year term on one count and a 10-year term on the other, according to KTAR.
Why his prior record mattered
Prosecutors told the court that jurors found Delacruz had already racked up two prior serious drug felonies. That finding opened the door for them to pursue tougher statutory penalties. Under 21 U.S.C. § 851, when prosecutors file notice of prior convictions before trial or a plea, they can seek enhanced mandatory minimum sentences. The statute also gives defendants a chance to challenge the listed priors in court, as outlined by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Evidence and multi-agency probe
Authorities said the conspiracy involved more than 19 pounds of methamphetamine and that officers seized a Glock 19 during an October 2023 search tied to the case. The investigation pulled in multiple agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Glendale Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Secret Service, according to a federal forfeiture notice on Forfeiture.gov.
What happens next
Delacruz will be moved into federal custody to start serving his term, while his attorneys retain the right to appeal both the conviction and the sentence. Court filings and the forfeiture notice list the case docket for anyone tracking what happens next and spell out the civil forfeiture process for the seized property.
Legal implications
The jury’s finding that Delacruz had two prior serious drug felonies was the pivot point in the case. Federal law allows prosecutors to seek enhanced punishment when those priors are properly noticed to the court. That mechanism, along with the government’s use of multi-agency task forces in large meth cases, shows how prosecutors typically assemble multi-state trafficking prosecutions in federal court.
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