Rancho Cordova man convicted on drug, money laundering charges sentenced

A Rancho Cordova man who was convicted on federal drug and money laundering charges was sentenced yesterday at U.S. District Court in Sacramento.

U.S District Judge Dale A. Drozd sentenced Adan Navarro, 30, of Rancho Cordova to 15 years in prison for conspiracy to import heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl pills, conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl pills, and conspiracy to launder money to Mexico.

Evidence presented at his trial showed that on June 2, 2020, Navarro coordinated and received a $20,000 cash payment on behalf of a Mexico-based drug trafficker in order to pay down a multi-kilogram heroin debt and to facilitate future larger shipments of heroin.  On July 24, 2020, U.S. border agents seized a drug load that Navarro partially owned and coordinated. 

The load was seized immediately after it crossed from Mexico into the United States and contained approximately 21 pounds of pure methamphetamine, 2 kilograms of heroin, and 977 fentanyl-laced counterfeit prescription pills. 

Following this seizure, Navarro and an associate arranged to send additional money to a Mexico-based source of supply to coordinate a new shipment of drugs.

This case was the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Team (TRIDENT), with assistance from Customs and Border Protection, the California Highway Patrol, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Rancho Cordova Police Department, the Citrus Heights Police Department, and the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office.

Co-defendant Lionel Chavez pled guilty on March 21, 2023, and is scheduled to be sentenced on August 6, 2024.