Feds arrest 8 in Tucson-based drug ring case

By Brady McCombs Arizona Daily Star Arizona Daily Star
August 25, 2010 1:47 pm

Federal investigators arrested eight people from a family-run drug smuggling and money laundering ring based in Tucson this week that shipped marijuana to Ohio using a hot dog stand, trucking company and seafood distribution company as fronts.

The arrests were the culmination of a five-year investigation carried out by the Drug Enforcement Administration and IRS Criminal Investigations. It began in March 2005 and ended in June, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Investigators say the drug trafficking organization was led by Jonathan Ortiz Troncoza, 39, of Tucson, and several other members of the Troncoza family.

They laundered up to $5 million in proceeds from the sale of marijuana, which they used to purchase, lease or rent properties, vehicles and jewelry. Agents seized marijuana, more than $700,000 cash, several vehicles including a tractor-trailer, guns, jewelry and a house, the news release says.

The Troncoza family used aliases and false business names as fronts, including “Sea of Cortez Seafood & Produce Distribution, LLCâ€