One defendant was sentenced and another pleaded guilty Monday in “Operation Toxic Waste,” a federal investigation into a Mexico-based drug trafficking ring involving 22 defendants and more than 12,900 pounds of methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.

Sergio Pena, 32, of La Puente, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston in Fresno’s federal courthouse to 15 years and eight months in prison for trafficking firearms and methamphetamine.

In addition, Ruben Saenz, 38, of Los Angeles, pleaded guilty Monday to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and is scheduled to be sentenced July 13. He faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a maximum penalty of life in prison.

Court documents show the investigation uncovered a sophisticated operation that also trafficked more than 50 pounds of a fentanyl mixture, 39 pounds of cocaine, and 22 pounds of heroin, using portable projectors, batteries, semi-trucks, and vehicle gas tanks to smuggle narcotics. The organization tracked shipments with hidden GPS devices.

Saenz was caught in September 2023 transporting more than 4,700 pounds of methamphetamine in a rented moving truck. Pena joined the organization in March 2023 and served as a U.S.-based reseller, mailing and selling large amounts of methamphetamine, along with more than a dozen firearms and a machine gun conversion device.

Ten other defendants have already been sentenced, including Jose Nunez of Lancaster to 21 years and 10 months, Jesus Perez Garcia Jr. of Los Angeles to 19 years and seven months, and Adolfo Montiel of Lancaster to 16 years and four months. Others await sentencing or face pending charges.

Charges are only allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court, prosecutors said.

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