A Mexican national residing illegally in Kent, Washington, has been sentenced to 22 months in prison for his involvement in a drug distribution conspiracy. The U.S. District Court in Seattle handed down the sentence to Martin Alonzo Peinado Torres, as announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller.
Peinado Torres explained that he was enticed to the United States by a Facebook post offering construction work. However, upon completing employment forms, he was informed that his actual job would be transporting drugs. He claimed that the drug ring had obtained his family information and threatened them if he refused to cooperate. U.S. District Judge Kymberly Evanson remarked on Peinado Torres’ lack of prior criminal history in both Mexico and the U.S., stating, “You were lured to the U.S. under false pretenses.”
Court records indicate that Peinado Torres became involved with an already-investigated drug ring shortly after arriving in the U.S. By mid-June, investigators identified him as part of the organization. A search of his home on August 2, 2024, revealed over three kilos of methamphetamine, nearly a kilo of fentanyl pills, some fentanyl powder and cocaine, along with more than $12,000 in cash from drug proceeds.
Prosecutors sought a four-year sentence due to rising fentanyl overdose statistics. They noted that “In King County alone, there have been 453 overdose deaths as of June 16, 2025,” with most involving fentanyl. They argued that Peinado’s actions contributed significantly to community addiction issues.
Following his prison term, Peinado Torres is expected to be deported.
The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and Puyallup Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Casey Conzatti prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation aimed at dismantling high-level criminal organizations through a coordinated multi-agency approach.
