A 35-year-old Mexican national, Iris Adrianna Amador-Garcia of Bellflower, California, was sentenced on June 2 in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 15 years in prison for leading a large-scale drug distribution organization and plotting to kill a Centralia police officer. The announcement was made by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd.
Amador-Garcia coordinated the distribution of methamphetamine, fentanyl pills, and heroin across multiple states and internationally to Fiji. She also laundered proceeds from drug sales and possessed firearms. After law enforcement seized a significant quantity of drugs during a traffic stop, Amador-Garcia discussed plans with associates to locate and kill the officer involved.
U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour said during sentencing that, “Threats against law enforcement is a line in the sand that is completely unacceptable.” Floyd said, “This criminal organization was well-organized, well-sourced, and well-connected. This defendant was prepared to take drastic measures to protect what she had built. She and her criminal associates were intercepted openly discussing killing an officer after a large shipment of drugs was seized.” He added gratitude for law enforcement’s efforts keeping officers safe.
Robert A. Saccone, Special Agent in Charge at the Drug Enforcement Administration Seattle Field Division, said: “This sentence sends a clear message that those who traffic fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other deadly drugs into our communities, and those who threaten violence against law enforcement, will be held accountable.” Carrie Nordyke from IRS Criminal Investigation stated: “Ms. Amador-Garcia and her organization distributed incredibly large amounts of deadly drugs to all corners of the country… IRS-CI and our law enforcement partners are committed to making our streets safer as we continue to investigate and dismantle drug trafficking organizations like Ms. Amador-Garcia’s.”
The investigation began as early as February 2020 with indictments returned in fall 2021; it identified Amador-Garcia along with Jose Alfredo Maldonado-Ramirez as leaders distributing drugs throughout several states including New York, Massachusetts, Illinois, Ohio, Florida, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Virginia; they also attempted international shipments.
The case forms part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative established by Executive Order 14159 aimed at eliminating transnational criminal organizations operating within the United States through interagency collaboration involving agencies such as Homeland Security Investigations; FBI; DEA; ATF; US Marshals Service; USPIS; IRS-CI; US Secret Service; Customs & Border Protection; Coast Guard Investigative Service—and prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington.
The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington promotes community safety through programs addressing gun violence and online threats while handling federal prosecutions across areas including Seattle and Tacoma with about 85 attorneys supported by approximately 70 staff members, according to its official website.
