Leader of western Washington fentanyl trafficking ring sentenced to over 10 years in federal prison

Hector Duran Aldaco, 25, of Federal Way, was sentenced Monday in US District Court in Seattle to 130 months in prison after pleading guilty in February to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Federal prosecutors identified Duran Aldaco as the leader of a conspiracy involving more than a dozen people who were indicted and arrested in May 2024.

At sentencing, US District Judge Kymberly K. Evanson described the scope as “…a staggering quantity of controlled substances."

According to federal prosecutors, Duran Aldaco was responsible for attempting to distribute approximately 85 kilograms of methamphetamine, 30 kilograms of fentanyl, and 2.5 kilograms of cocaine throughout Western Washington.

"Despite repeated law enforcement seizures, he didn't stop, switching from rental cars to intercity bus lines to try to get his drugs to Washington," First Assistant US Attorney Charles Neil Floyd said in a statement. "That conduct plus his possession of high-power firearms results in this lengthy sentence which is warranted."

The investigation began in December 2022 when the Drug Enforcement Administration and the FBI identified Duran Aldaco, who also went by the alias "Jay Thrax," as a major fentanyl distributor. Investigators determined he was supplied by a Mexico-based drug trafficking organization that transported narcotics from the Los Angeles area to Washington, where Duran Aldaco and his associates redistributed the drugs across the region.

Authorities used physical and electronic surveillance, travel records, and court-authorized wiretaps to track the organization. After several large narcotics seizures during traffic stops, investigators said the organization shifted from using rental cars to shipping drugs aboard commercial bus lines in an attempt to avoid detection.

Even with the change in tactics, law enforcement agencies continued intercepting shipments. In April 2023, the California Highway Patrol seized 47 kilograms of methamphetamine and approximately 115,000 fentanyl pills. Then in June that year, Oregon State Police recovered 28 pounds of methamphetamine during a traffic stop. In November, the Oregon State Police seized 15 kilograms of methamphetamine and 30 kilograms of fentanyl pills. In April 2024, Portland Police recovered 7.5 kilograms of fentanyl pills abandoned at a bus station by one of Duran Aldaco's associates. Federal authorities said wiretap evidence also captured Duran Aldaco discussing acquiring and trading firearms for narcotics.

When agents executed search warrants at his residence and storage unit in May 2024, they recovered three firearms, ammunition, body armor, more than $14,000 in cash, jewelry, over three kilograms of methamphetamine, 200 grams of cocaine, and more than 10 kilograms of marijuana. Investigators also said the storage unit appeared to have been configured to support a marijuana grow operation.

FBI Seattle Special Agent in Charge W. Mike Herrington said the sentence should serve as a warning to others involved in large-scale drug trafficking. "Hector Duran Aldaco sat at the helm of a transnational drug trafficking organization conspiring to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and alprazolam throughout Western Washington," Herrington said. "Today's sentencing serves as a reminder to those who might be tempted to follow in Mr. Duran Aldaco's footsteps: there are serious consequences to fueling addiction and causing harm in our local communities."

DEA Seattle Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Saccone said the organization not only distributed deadly narcotics but also armed itself to protect its criminal enterprise. "This sentence sends a clear message that those who traffic fentanyl and arm themselves with firearms to protect their criminal enterprise will be held accountable," Saccone said.