Attorney General Kris Mayes has announced the sentencing of two individuals involved in fentanyl trafficking. Jovanny Algandar received a 2.5-year prison sentence followed by three years of probation in Maricopa County Superior Court on March 11, 2025. He was also ordered to pay $4,500 to the State Anti-Racketeering Revolving Fund after pleading guilty to two counts of attempting to sell a narcotic drug, classified as a class 3 felony.
Lauro Garcia Salmon, Algandar's co-defendant, was sentenced earlier on December 19, 2024, to a 3.5-year prison term and also required to pay $4,500 to the same fund. Salmon pleaded guilty to attempting to sell a narcotic drug for sale and illegally conducting an enterprise, both class 3 felonies.
"Fentanyl is devastating Arizona communities, and those who attempt to profit from this deadly drug will be held accountable," said Attorney General Mayes. "My office will continue to work tirelessly to dismantle drug trafficking organizations that ship fentanyl to our communities. Let this serve as a warning—if you deal fentanyl in Arizona, we will find you, prosecute you, and bring you to justice."
The case revealed that on April 3 and April 8 of 2024 in Maricopa County, Arizona, Algandar attempted to sell approximately 2.45 pounds of fentanyl pills. Meanwhile, Salmon tried selling around 12.1 pounds of fentanyl pills on May 8, 2024. Between April and May of that year, Salmon conducted affairs through racketeering by transporting fentanyl pills for sale in exchange for proceeds.
The investigation was led by the Arizona Department of Public Safety with Assistant Attorney General Sabrina Lochner prosecuting the case.
A copy of the indictment is available below.