Undocumented migrant charged with attempted murder for shooting at DEA agents in Phoenix

PHOENIX — An undocumented migrant was indicted by a federal grand jury for attempted murder after he allegedly shot at U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents earlier this year in Phoenix, officials announced.

Eduardo Valenzuela Lopez, 33, of Sonora, Mexico, was also charged with assaulting or resisting a law enforcement officer, use of a firearm during a drug trafficking offense, possession of a firearm by an alien unlawfully present in the U.S., conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona.

In addition, 22-year-old Jael Gonzales Banuelos of Phoenix, Lopez’s codefendant, was indicted for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, prosecutors said.

The two were arraigned in federal court on Wednesday.

“We are driving a nationwide effort to choke off the flow of fentanyl at every level — from transnational criminal organizations to street-level distribution,” U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine said in an announcement. “We continue to stand by our federal agents as they confront these violent criminal networks head on.”

Details on the Phoenix shooting with DEA agents the men were charged for

From Jan. 30 through Feb. 24, Lopez coordinated the sale and delivery of around 50,000 fentanyl pills, according to court documents.

It is alleged that the men intended to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl on Feb. 24. Law enforcement found out about the deal and attempted to arrest Lopez and Banuelos when they delivered the pills.

However, when DEA agents approached the Dodge Ram truck the men were, Lopez began shooting at them, prosecutors said.

The agents proceeded to return fire and were later able to arrest Lopez and Banuelos. No one was injured during the exchange of gunfire, prosecutors said.

Afterwards, investigators allegedly found a firearm on the floor of the driver’s side of the truck and approximately 50,000 fentanyl pills in the truck’s passenger compartment.

There was also a brick of fentanyl powder found at Lopez’s house that weighed approximately 1 kilogram, according to prosecutors.

Attempted murder of a federal officer and assaulting, resisting or impeding a law enforcement officer each have a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.

Meanwhile, use of a firearm during a drug trafficking offense, conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl each have a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Possession of a firearm by an alien unlawfully present in the U.S. has a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.

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