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June 30, 2022Tucson, AZ, United StatesNarcotics

Repeat Tucson drug trafficker sentenced to 10 years in prison following HSI, multiagency probe

TUCSON, Ariz. – A local Arizona woman was sentenced June 28 to 10 years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release following an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Tucson Police Department.

Modesta Solano, 51, previously pleaded guilty on April 6, to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.

“We continue to fight against the illicit trade of narcotics and the devastation fentanyl brings to our communities,” said Scott Brown, special agent in charge of HSI Phoenix. “This repeat felon now must answer for her crimes. We appreciate our partners aiding with this investigation, and the support of U.S. Attorney’s Office in prosecuting cases like these.”

A federal grand jury indicted Solano in October 2020 on drug and firearms charges after Solano sold a handgun and over 4,000 fentanyl pills to an undercover agent in Tucson. Solano was prohibited from possessing firearms due to a prior felony drug conviction for which she was sentenced to five years. Solano was on supervision when she committed these new offenses.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Stefani Hepford, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.

Learn more about HSI’s commitment to combatting narcotics in Arizona at @HSIPhoenix.

HSI is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel, and finance move. HSI’s workforce of over 10,400 employees consists of more than 7,100 special agents assigned to 220 cities throughout the United States, and 80 overseas locations in 53 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’s largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.

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