Two brothers from California have been handed down lengthy prison sentences for their involvement in a major trafficking ring that operated in the Butte and Helena communities. This announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich on October 22nd. The brothers were responsible for distributing large quantities of methamphetamine and tens of thousands of fentanyl pills.
Martin Topete, aged 33, from Mira Loma, California, received a 20-year prison sentence, to be followed by five years of supervised release. His brother, Johnathan Topete, aged 28, also from Mira Loma, California, was sentenced to 10 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. In April, both defendants pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess controlled substances with the intent to distribute. These sentences mark the final rulings for all defendants involved in the case.
Judge Dana L. Christensen presided over the proceedings in the U.S. District Court.
“Drugs, cash, and guns are common elements in the cases we prosecute. However, this particular case stands out due to the alarming quantities involved and the fact that it was a family operation. The Topete brothers, along with eight defendants from Montana and California, were responsible for trafficking a staggering amount of methamphetamine and fentanyl pills in the Butte and Helena communities over a period of approximately six months. As a result, the brothers have been sentenced to a combined 30 years in federal prison. This successful prosecution not only removes a significant amount of drugs and firearms from our streets but also sends a message that we will relentlessly pursue justice against those who endanger our state and nation,” stated U.S. Attorney Laslovich.
According to court records, the government accused the Topete brothers and six other co-defendants of conspiring to traffic meth and fentanyl in Butte and Helena from June 2022 to around January 2023. The case came to light when the Utah Highway Patrol intercepted an individual carrying 3.5 pounds of meth and 6,000 fentanyl pills in June 2022. It was revealed that the drugs were destined for distribution by a co-defendant named Juan Felipe Vidrio Fuentes, also known as “Esco,” from Anaheim, California, to Butte.
Further investigation revealed that Fuentes was staying at a residence in Whitehall, along with co-defendant James Andrew Stringari from Whitehall. It was discovered that Fuentes supplied both fentanyl and meth in the Butte area from the Whitehall residence. Additionally, law enforcement confirmed the involvement of co-defendants Janet Dean White from Butte and another unidentified co-defendant in the trafficking of meth and fentanyl.
Law enforcement officials were able to seize packages filled with numerous pills, which had been sent from California to both a Whitehall address and a Butte address, during their thorough investigation. Additionally, they discovered that Fuentes had recently moved to a house in Helena. As a result, they executed synchronized raids at both the Helena and Butte residences. At the Butte residence, authorities discovered around six pounds of meth, 208 grams of fentanyl, $15,000 in cash, and seven firearms. Similarly, at the Helena residence, law enforcement found approximately seven pounds of meth and 68 grams of fentanyl.
Fuentes, one of the co-defendants, received a 30-year prison sentence, while Stringari was sentenced to 16 years and White was sentenced to 15 years. In April, a federal jury found all three defendants guilty of trafficking. Wayne Johnson II, another co-defendant from Santa Ana, California, pleaded guilty and received a 20-year prison sentence. Trevor Allen Handy, a co-defendant from Butte, was sentenced to three years and six months, and Agatha Noriz Carranza, from Whitehall, received a three-year prison sentence. Handy and Carranza also pleaded guilty to the charges.
The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The investigation was carried out by several law enforcement agencies including the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, Southwest Montana Drug Task Force, Montana Highway Patrol, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Missouri River Drug Task Force, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, Utah Highway Patrol, and Utah State Bureau of Investigations.
The Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) conducted an investigation into this case. OCDETF employs a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most significant criminal organizations that pose a threat to the United States. To learn more about the efforts of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.