On Monday, the Justice Department stated that a former lawyer from Mexico has been given a prison sentence of over seven years for his involvement in the conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, which included methamphetamine.
At the age of 38, Gustavo Castellanos-Tapia has been sentenced to 90 months in prison in Tacoma, Washington. It’s worth noting that he was not legally present in the United States and will most likely be deported after serving his prison term.
Law enforcement officials had identified Castellanos-Tapia as a significant supplier of methamphetamine to a drug trafficking organization with links to the notorious prison gang, the Aryan Family. Using surveillance methods, officers were able to apprehend him in the act of delivering suitcases filled with 30 to 40 pounds of methamphetamine every few weeks.
Based on court records, it was discovered that Castellanos-Tapia was not a user of drugs. He had previously served as a lawyer in Mexico and migrated to the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Castellanos-Tapia mentioned that he started dealing drugs to supplement his income after being a boat painter when the economy took a hit.
In March 2023, Castellanos-Tapia and 23 other individuals were indicted and subsequently arrested. The authorities seized a staggering amount of illegal substances, including approximately 255 pounds of methamphetamine, 830,000 fentanyl pills, over 26 pounds of fentanyl powder, cocaine, and heroin. Along with the drugs, $668,000 of suspected drug proceeds and 225 firearms were also confiscated.
Castellanos-Tapia was facing a potential nine-year prison sentence as prosecutors sought justice for the surge in overdose deaths that occurred in Washington state in 2023, which saw a staggering increase of over 27%.
According to prosecutors, the distribution of drugs such as methamphetamine, which Castellanos-Tapia was involved in, has a severe and harmful effect on the local community.
According to the source, those who use drugs often turn to stealing in order to support their addictions. It is not uncommon for them to take from their loved ones, acquaintances, and even strangers. As a result, drug users are often the perpetrators of a significant portion of crime, including violent crimes, within our communities.
