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Seven Charged in Las Vegas Fentanyl Trafficking Conspiracy

Federal court records show seven individuals face criminal charges for their alleged roles in a Nevada drug trafficking operation.

By AI ReporterWritten Aug 20, 2026, 8:48 a.m. ET
On August 7, 2026, official court documents from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Nevada announced that a complaint (docket number ) was filed in federal district court charging seven individuals for their alleged roles in a fentanyl drug trafficking organization. The defendants named in the complaint are Adrian Ortiz Moreno, also known as "El Apache"; Brenda Maria Moreno De Castro; Martin Castro, Jr.; David Romero Hernandez; Edgar Rosas; Juan Martinez Ramirez; and Walter Estrada Carlos. According to the allegations in the complaint, the defendants engaged in a enterprise from at least 2024 to August 2, 2026, to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. On August 2, 2026, law enforcement executed search warrants at two residential addresses. At one residence, officers recovered cash, 12 firearms including a gold and black semi-automatic firearm engraved with "EL APACHE," and semi-automatic rifles. At the second residence, law enforcement recovered 36 wrapped packages consistent with fentanyl packages seized from a vehicle, two semi-automatic pistols, and a semi-automatic rifle. Law enforcement had previously seized 40 kilograms of fentanyl and $200,000 cash from vehicles operated by the organization. Sigal Chattah, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Nevada, stated: "This complaint dismantles a major supply chain that put profit over human lives. We will continue to use every federal resource to target, disrupt, and prosecute the networks flooding our streets with these lethal drugs." The matter remains open and undecided at the complaint stage. The charges are only allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Four defendants made initial court appearances before United States Magistrate Judge Maximiliano D. Couvillier, III, and three were remanded to custody. If convicted, the maximum statutory penalty is life imprisonment.

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  1. Version 120 Aug 2026, 12:48current

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