Mexican illegal immigrant sentenced to 3 years in prison over Seattle-area drug trafficking ring

Jose Carlos Peraza Alvarez, who was in the US illegally, was arrested on August 2, 2024, when Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents raided the residence he used as a hub for a drug trafficking organization, per the US Attorney's Office for the Western District of Washington. Inside, agents seized 70 kilograms of methamphetamine, three kilograms of heroin, one kilogram of fentanyl pills, and six kilograms of fentanyl powder.

US District Judge Kymberly K. Evanson emphasized the seriousness of the case at sentencing. “The aggravating point is the quantity of drugs seized. This is a serious offense involving large amounts of controlled substances,” Evanson said. Court records show Peraza Alvarez first drew the attention of investigators in the summer of 2024 during a broader DEA probe into a drug trafficking network. By July, agents had identified his SeaTac address and placed it under surveillance.

In early August, federal agents executed search warrants at both his home and the Kent residence of a co-conspirator, Martin Alonzo Peinado Torres, who served as a runner for the organization. While only small amounts of narcotics were found at Torres’ residence, investigators seized more than $12,000 in cash. Torres was sentenced in June 2025 to nearly two years in prison.

Prosecutors urged the court to impose a six-year sentence for Peraza Alvarez, citing the lethal impact of the drugs involved. In their memo, they stressed that fentanyl has fueled record overdoses, while methamphetamine is also a leading killer in King County. “Fentanyl is obviously known for its deadly properties, but the government also notes that methamphetamine was the second most common drug involved in King County overdose deaths in 2024,” prosecutors wrote. That year, 581 overdose deaths involved methamphetamine, accounting for 56 percent of all overdose fatalities in the county.

Despite the government’s request, Judge Evanson handed down a three-year sentence, followed by three years of supervised release. Because Peraza Alvarez was unlawfully in the United States, he is expected to be deported after serving his prison term.