SEATTLE, WA – A 38-year-old Mexican citizen formerly residing in Kent, Washington, was sentenced on May 28, 2025, to ten years in federal prison for his role in a major drug trafficking conspiracy involving cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl.
Ramon Duarte Garcia was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Seattle after a nearly four-year investigation that linked him to a large-scale drug operation extending from Colombia to Mexico and into Washington State. Authorities seized over 32 kilograms of cocaine, 14 kilograms of methamphetamine, 83,000 fentanyl-laced pills, three kilograms of heroin, and one kilogram of fentanyl powder during the investigation.
Federal prosecutors stated Duarte Garcia was identified through wiretaps as a key player in the drug distribution network. Despite prior law enforcement encounters—including stops in July and December 2023 that resulted in drug and firearm seizures—Duarte Garcia continued trafficking. A December 2023 vehicle search yielded 13 kilograms of cocaine, a loaded 9mm pistol, ammunition, cash, a knife, a drug ledger, and suspected bullet fragments.
In one earlier case in California, Duarte Garcia had been charged after officers seized 12 pounds of meth, a Glock handgun, and $10,000 in cash during a July 2023 stop.
Prosecutors, who initially requested a 12-year sentence, emphasized the danger posed by Duarte Garcia’s actions and the armed nature of his trafficking activity. U.S. District Judge Tana Lin noted his repeated disregard for the law, remarking on his involvement in drug dealing shortly after entering the U.S.
The case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation, a multi-agency initiative targeting transnational criminal networks. Agencies involved included the DEA, Seattle Police Department, IRS Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and law enforcement entities from Colombia.
Duarte Garcia, who had overstayed his visa, is expected to be deported following his prison term. If he remains in the United States, he will serve three years of supervised release.