Two Arizona men have been sentenced for bringing methamphetamine and fentanyl into Mississippi.
According to court records, Enrique Rivera, 45, previously pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine while Omar Villacorta was convicted at trial of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine along with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. The two men were caught with 110 pounds of meth and three kilograms of fentanyl in Batesville after transporting the drugs from California.
Rivera was sentenced to 16 years and eight months in prison with five years of supervised release. Villacorta was sentenced to 19 years and seven months behind bars with five years of supervised release.
“This prosecution resulted from one of the largest drug seizures in the Northern District of Mississippi in recent history,” U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner said. “It was the result of a significant undercover operation involving state and federal law enforcement officers. Due to their diligence and professionalism, we were able to keep this methamphetamine and fentanyl off the streets of Mississippi.”
The Panola County Sheriff’s Office, Batesville Police Department, DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office, Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, and the Drug Enforcement Agency investigated the case. The prosecution was led by U.S. Attorneys Scott Leary and Chad Doleac.
