Elbin Salvador Archaga-Ayestas, also known as "Cuco," has been sentenced to 50 months in federal prison for distributing fentanyl and engaging in international money laundering. The sentence was delivered by U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers.
Archaga-Ayestas, a 21-year-old Honduran national, faced charges from a superseding indictment dated December 7, 2023. He was charged with one count of distributing 40 grams or more of fentanyl and three counts of international money laundering related to sending proceeds from his fentanyl sales to Honduras via an Oakland-based money services business. On November 7, 2024, he pleaded guilty to all four counts.
Court documents revealed that Archaga-Ayestas resided in Oakland but traveled to San Francisco's Tenderloin neighborhood to conduct drug sales. On May 11, 2023, he sold multiple ounces of fentanyl to an undercover officer. When arrested on June 26, 2023, he possessed nearly 2.5 kilograms of fentanyl. In the months before his arrest, Archaga-Ayestas sent over $10,000 back to his family in Honduras through Envios Express using fake wire senders and multiple recipients in Honduras to avoid Bank Secrecy Act reporting requirements.
Judge Gonzalez Rogers also ordered Archaga-Ayestas to serve four years of supervised release following his prison term.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Patrick D. Robbins, DEA Special Agent in Charge Bob P. Beris, and IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent Linda Nguyen.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America under the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs), which targets high-level drug traffickers and criminal organizations through a coordinated approach involving various law enforcement agencies.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Kassabian prosecuted the case with assistance from Amanda Martinez and Andy Ding after a year-long investigation by the DEA and IRS-CI.