The leader of a drug trafficking organization operating out of South Puget Sound has been sentenced to ten years in prison. Joel Adrian Valencia Rosas, 28, from Lakewood, Washington, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Tacoma for his role in a multi-state drug trafficking scheme. This sentencing follows an investigation that revealed the distribution of cocaine, fentanyl, and marijuana to states as far as Georgia and Ohio.
U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman announced the sentence, highlighting the organization's use of social media platforms like Snapchat and Instagram for communication and recruitment. U.S. District Judge Tiffany M. Cartwright noted during the sentencing hearing that Valencia Rosas glamorized drug dealing through his social media presence: “He used the lower-level members of the drug ring to take on higher risks… Mr. Valencia Rosas was willing to recruit and sacrifice others to make more money.”
Gorman emphasized the age range of those involved: “The defendants in this case are all young – 18-28 years old." She further commented on Valencia Rosas's portrayal of drug trafficking as glamorous: "In reality, drug trafficking leaves destruction in its wake.”
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) led an investigation with multiple law enforcement agencies which resulted in significant seizures including nearly 52 kilos of cocaine, over 23 kilos of fentanyl pills, and 131 kilos of marijuana.
Valencia Rosas has been involved in drug trafficking since at least 2018 according to court records. Despite having his Snapchat account closed in December 2022, he continued his activities on Instagram until his arrest later that year.
Assistant United States Attorney Marci Ellsworth requested an 11-year sentence stating: “Valencia Rosas was so successful that he could not traffic the drugs without bringing others into his criminal orbit.” She noted that only Valencia Rosas profited from these activities.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation aimed at dismantling high-level criminal organizations using a coordinated approach among various law enforcement agencies.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Marci L. Ellsworth and Crystal Correa.