Man Gets Over 16 Years in Prison for Importation of Fentanyl Pills

Customs and Border Protection agents check pedestrians as they exit Mexico into the customs area of the United States on the east side of the San Ysidro port of entry in Tijuana, Mexico, on Nov. 19, 2018. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)

SAN DIEGO—A Riverside County man convicted of importing more than 80 pounds of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl into the United States was sentenced in San Diego federal court March 20 to more than 16 years in prison.

Moises Moreno, 38, of Moreno Valley, was found guilty by a jury of trying to smuggle pills inside his pickup truck at the San Ysidro Port of Entry on June 6, 2021.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said the pills were contained in 35 packages, which were hidden inside a false ceiling in the roof of the truck.

According to prosecutors, Moreno denied knowing the drugs were in his truck upon his arrest, but bragged about the smuggling attempt in a series of recorded jail calls.

He was sentenced Monday to 200 months in prison.