Doctor, 8 others indicted for drug trafficking, money laundering in Phoenix

PHOENIX — Nine people, including a Valley doctor, were indicted on 34 counts, including drug trafficking and money laundering, by a grand jury in Phoenix, the Department of Justice announced.

An investigation determined George Martinez-Aviles, M.D., Yvette Porras-Ochoa, Ricardo Ochoa, Kourtney Moore, Vanessa Quijada, Josefina Thomas and Kristel Pimentel conspired to distribute oxycodone knowingly and intentionally and to distribute promethazine-codeine outside the scope of professional practice, according to a press release.

Martinez-Aviles is an internist practicing in Glendale.

Additionally, Porras-Ochoa, Moore, Ochoa, and Angel Borunda face charges for conspiring to distribute cocaine, while Moore was indicted for for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Ibis Efren Miranda Hernandez was also named in the indictment.

Six of the defendants also face related money-laundering charges. All of the defendants except Moore, who is from Ohio, and Borunda, who is from Texas, are from the Phoenix area.

Law enforcement allegedly seized cocaine, marijuana, oxycodone, promethazine-codeine and counterfeit oxycodone pills with fentanyl.

The Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation.

Homeland Security Investigations, United States Postal Inspection Service, the United States Marshals Service, the Phoenix Police Department, the Surprise Police Department, the Peoria Police Department, the Glendale Police Department and the Goodyear Police Department contributed to the investigation.

The United States Attorney’s Office in Arizona is in charge of handling the prosecution, according to the release.

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