United States Drug Enforcement Administration

Tacoma- A 28-year-old citizen of Mexico was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to 46 months in prison for his drug-dealing activity in Western Washington, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Omar Arellano-Hernandez had traveled to the Pacific Northwest from Mexico and was staying at a Tukwila hotel when agents arrested him on April 20, 2020. At the sentencing hearing, U.S District Judge Benjamin H. Settle described methamphetamine as a “poison” with devastating impacts.

“We cannot lose sight of the damage methamphetamine continues to wreak in our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “Overdose deaths from methamphetamine are at record high levels. Those in the grip of meth addiction struggle with the mental illness and frequently commit crimes to fuel their habit – making the community as a whole a victim of this drug trafficking.” 

According to the plea agreement, Omar Arellano-Hernandez, was arrested when he showed up to deliver more than six pounds of methamphetamine to another drug trafficker in Puyallup. Both men were arrested. In Arellano-Hernandez’s Tukwila motel room, agents seized more methamphetamine and over $34,000 in cash.

Omar Arellano-Hernandez was not legally present in the United States and will likely be deported following his prison term. He has been in custody since his April 2020 arrest.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Tacoma Resident Office, the Lewis County Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team, and the Grays Harbor Drug Task Force.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jonas Lerman.