A Seattle resident, Bryce Hill, has been sentenced to 35 years in federal prison for his involvement in a transnational drug trafficking organization. The sentence was announced by United States Attorney Troy Rivetti after Hill was convicted by a jury in September 2025. In addition to the prison term, Hill will serve five years of supervised release.
Hill, age 28, was among 35 individuals charged in January 2024 through a Second Superseding Indictment for their roles in a domestic and international narcotics and money laundering conspiracy. The case involved large quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine distributed across the United States.
Evidence presented at trial showed that Hill was a member of the Phoenix-based Monarrez Drug Trafficking Organization. This group distributed millions of fentanyl pills, hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine, and dozens of kilograms of cocaine between August 2021 and June 2023. The drugs were supplied to subordinate distributors who then redistributed them nationwide, including into western Pennsylvania.
Federal wiretaps intercepted Hill obtaining significant amounts of fentanyl pills and powder for redistribution. During the investigation, law enforcement executed a search warrant on January 11, 2023, at Hill’s apartment and seized 27 kilograms of fentanyl pills, multiple firearms, and $387,000 in cash. Another seizure on December 25, 2022, at a short-term rental property in Scottsdale, Arizona resulted in the confiscation of additional narcotics: 28 kilograms of fentanyl pills, 7.5 kilograms of fentanyl powder, three kilograms of cocaine, 48 kilograms of methamphetamine, and 20 firearms.
The jury found that Hill conspired with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, and 500 grams or more of methamphetamine within the Western District of Pennsylvania and elsewhere.
Hill is one among several defendants sentenced as part of this case; sentencing has already occurred for 32 co-defendants.
Assistant United States Attorneys Arnold P. Bernard Jr. and Katherine C. Jordan prosecuted the case. The investigation involved multiple agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Laurel Highlands Resident Agency and Homeland Security Investigations. Additional support came from the Internal Revenue Service–Criminal Investigation division, United States Postal Inspection Service, Scottsdale Police Department (Arizona), and other local law enforcement agencies.
United States Attorney Rivetti stated: “This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, combat illegal immigration, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.” He added: “Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).”
