3 defendants sentenced to years in prison in Arizona meth trafficking case
Two men and a woman were arrested after a Chandler police informant set up a deal to buy 70 pounds of meth from a Mexican drug cartel.
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Two men and a woman face years in prison for trafficking methamphetamine in Arizona for a Mexican drug cartel, authorities announced Tuesday.
Berenice Nafarrate, Leonel Armenta-Perez and Marcial Valenzuela-Hernandez were arrested last year after they arrived to complete a drug deal, according to the Arizona Attorney General’s Office.
On Nov. 4, 2025, a Chandler Police Department informant arranged a buy with Mexico-based traffickers.
The informant met with Nafarrate and Armenta-Perez at the agreed-upon location, and Valenzuela-Hernandez drove the meth to the transaction site, prosecutors said.
Police arrested the trio at the scene and recovered just over 70 pounds of meth.
Valenzuela-Hernandez was 17 at the time. Armenta-Perez, who was carrying a handgun during the deal, was known to authorities as a major drug trafficker, prosecutors said. Meanwhile, Nafarrate had a prior arrest for drug trafficking in Oklahoma.
All three were indicted on multiple charges on Dec. 8, 2025.
Nafarrate, Armenta-Perez and Valenzuela-Hernandez all pleaded guilty to transportation of a dangerous drug for sale. Additionally, Armenta-Perez pleaded guilty to misconduct involving weapons and conspiracy.
They were sentenced in Maricopa County Superior Court as follows:
- Valenzuela-Hernandez: Five years on June 29.
- Nafarrate: Seven years on July 14.
- Armenta-Perez: Seven years on July 16.
Each defendant was also ordered to pay $5,000 in fines and fees. Furthermore, Armenta-Perez was ordered to forfeit his handgun.
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Comments
3 Comments
Not sending us their best and brightest
More drugs from the Cartels.....
Ohh no, it’s the “We no perfecto” convicts. Dang, they just can’t help themselves and or their bad behavior. Ohh well, have fun with the other prison inmates..