Three individuals have been convicted in federal court for their roles in a nationwide drug distribution conspiracy linked to a transnational criminal organization, according to Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti. The convictions were announced following a trial in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Carlos Zamora of Phoenix, Arizona, and Bryce Hill of Seattle, Washington, were found guilty by a jury after a two-and-a-half-week trial before United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan. A third defendant, Jesus Ramirez of Phoenix, Arizona, pleaded guilty during the trial.
“These convictions are a testament to the collaborative efforts of law enforcement officers from multiple agencies throughout the country,” said Acting United States Attorney Rivetti. “Refusing to be bound by borders, law enforcement disrupted the deadly flow of fentanyl into western Pennsylvania by aggressively targeting conspirators in Phoenix, Seattle, Mexico, and elsewhere. This multi-year investigation enabled the seizure of millions of fentanyl tablets, the largest quantities ever obtained through an investigation based in western Pennsylvania.”
“These convictions send a clear message: those who think they can profit from the deadly flow of drugs and endanger lives in our community will be held accountable,” said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek. “The dangerous reality of large-scale drug trafficking organizations isn’t just about peddling huge quantities of poison – it’s also the violence they bring. The FBI and our partners stand fully committed to fighting for the protection of our neighborhoods.”
“Today’s verdict affirms what our investigators have worked so hard to prove: those who smuggle poison like fentanyl into the United States, endanger our families, and bankroll violence will face swift and severe consequences,” said Deputy Special Agent in Charge of HSI Philadelphia Nathan Abel. “While no verdict can replace the lives already lost to this crisis, it brings a measure of justice to the victims and a measure of safety to the public. HSI Philadelphia remains steadfast in pursuing every lead, freezing every illicit dollar, and bringing every offender to court until the flow of these deadly drugs is stopped.”
Evidence presented at trial showed that Hill and Zamora were members of the Monarrez Drug Trafficking Organization based in Phoenix. This group was responsible for distributing large amounts of fentanyl pills, methamphetamine, and cocaine across various states from August 2021 to June 2023. Law enforcement intercepted communications indicating that both defendants acquired significant quantities for redistribution purposes.
Authorities seized substantial evidence during searches connected with this case. On January 11, 2023, police confiscated 27 kilograms of fentanyl pills along with firearms and cash from Hill’s apartment. In another incident on December 25, 2022, law enforcement recovered additional narcotics including fentanyl powder and methamphetamine as well as weapons from a property in Scottsdale.
The jury determined that Hill and Zamora conspired with others to distribute large amounts—five kilograms or more—of cocaine; over 400 grams of fentanyl; and more than 500 grams of methamphetamine within western Pennsylvania and elsewhere.
Ramirez pleaded guilty on September 17, 2025. He admitted his role in conspiring with others to distribute significant quantities—over 500 grams—of cocaine; more than 40 grams of fentanyl; and at least 50 grams of methamphetamine.
Sentencing dates for Hill and Zamora are pending while Ramirez is scheduled for sentencing on January 20, 2026. The statutory maximum sentences range up to life imprisonment for Hill and Zamora with fines up to $10 million each; Ramirez faces up to forty years with fines reaching $5 million.
These three convictions add to those already secured against twenty-nine co-defendants involved in related charges.
Assistant United States Attorneys Arnold P. Bernard Jr., Tonya S. Goodman, and Katherine C. Jordan prosecuted this case.
The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Laurel Highlands Resident Agency alongside Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Other agencies included Internal Revenue Service–Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CI), U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), as well as local law enforcement such as Scottsdale Police Department.
This prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America—a national initiative coordinated by the Department of Justice aiming at dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations through collaboration among Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
