2 men convicted for Phoenix-based drug trafficking

Associated Press - December 21, 2010 6:44 PM ET

PHOENIX (AP) - A Phoenix man and a Mexican resident have been convicted of operating stash houses and a drug trafficking organization in Arizona.

Federal prosecutors said Tuesday that 31-year-old Mario Benitez of Phoenix and 36-year-old Arnoldo Zazueta-Miranda both will be sentenced April 11.

Evidence at trial showed that Zazueta-Miranda was the leader of a Phoenix-based drug trafficking organization that imported heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine from Mexico and then sold the drugs to customers.

Authorities say the organization used an auto body shop business and multiple stash houses to conduct its operation. Benitez was accused of operating a second stash house where multiple cocaine deals occurred.

Prosecutors say the drug trafficking organization had imported cocaine and meth from Mexico since January 2009. Benitez and Zazueta-Miranda were arrested in December 2009 along with four co-defendants.

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