A Phoenix man faces six years in state prison after pleading guilty to distributing fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine after a months-long investigation that included undercover buys and a failed effort to flee during a traffic stop.
According to KTAR, Cesar Penaloza pleaded guilty to one count of selling or transporting hazardous narcotics and one count of selling or transporting narcotic substances, as specified by the Arizona Attorney General’s Office. A Maricopa County court sentenced him to six years in state prison, and the plea agreement includes financial penalties. Prosecutors said the agreement resolved a state prosecution involving several large transactions with a confidential informant.
Penaloza sold four pounds of methamphetamine to an informant on August 19 and approximately 0.25 kilos of cocaine on September 3, according to the Arizona Attorney General’s Office. He also allegedly consented to a larger transaction involving one kilogram of fentanyl powder, one kilogram of cocaine, and ten pounds of methamphetamine for $39,000.
When authorities approached and halted his vehicle in October, Penaloza “attempted to flee” by jumping a curb and damaging parked automobiles before being apprehended, according to prosecutors quoted by KTAR.
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has frequently stated that her office prioritizes fentanyl and meth trafficking, saying that “law enforcement is watching.” According to a recent press release, Mayes stated, “My office will continue to prosecute those who transport dangerous drugs into Arizona communities.”
According to state data, fentanyl and methamphetamine are top priorities for drug enforcement in Arizona. According to the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission’s 2024 EDGE research, fentanyl and methamphetamine have accounted for a high share of drug-related arrests and convictions in recent fiscal years, placing Penaloza’s case squarely within a bigger statewide drive.
According to prosecutors, Penaloza was sentenced to more than $11,700 in restitution and over $12,500 in fines and fees. He will serve the six-year sentence under state legislation governing the sale and transportation of hazardous and narcotic narcotics, and additional supervised release terms and fines may be specified in subsequent court files.
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