Tacoma Man Sentenced to 66 Months for Trafficking Meth and Fentanyl

Rogelio Pena was part of a drug trafficking organization that moved large quantities of narcotics into Western Washington.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 9:47pm

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A 22-year-old Tacoma man was sentenced to 66 months in federal prison for his role in a drug trafficking organization that transported large quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl pills, and cocaine from Los Angeles to the Pacific Northwest. Rogelio Pena was a trusted member of the conspiracy, which resulted in the seizure of 81 kilograms of meth, 49 kilograms of fentanyl pills, and 15 kilograms of cocaine.

Why it matters

The scale of the drug trafficking operation and its impact on the community were cited at sentencing, as King County recorded over 1,300 fatal overdose deaths in 2023 during the period of the conspiracy, underscoring the broader public safety concerns tied to large-scale drug trafficking.

The details

Pena was a passenger in a vehicle carrying more than 25 pounds of methamphetamine during a traffic stop in June 2023. Despite that incident, he later arranged deliveries involving 20,000 fentanyl pills. The multi-agency investigation also led to the seizure of 7.5 kilograms of fentanyl-laced pills that had been abandoned at a bus station by a co-conspirator.

  • On June 28, 2023, Pena was a passenger in a vehicle carrying more than 25 pounds of methamphetamine.
  • In April 2024, law enforcement seized 7.5 kilograms of fentanyl-laced pills that had been abandoned at a bus station by a co-conspirator.
  • In May 2024, Pena was one of thirteen defendants indicted in the case.

The players

Rogelio Pena

A 22-year-old Tacoma man who was a trusted member of a drug trafficking organization that transported large quantities of narcotics from Los Angeles to the Pacific Northwest.

U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Washington

The office that prosecuted the case as part of a multi-agency effort targeting transnational drug trafficking organizations.

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

One of the federal agencies involved in the investigation.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

One of the federal agencies involved in the investigation.

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The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenge of combating large-scale drug trafficking operations and the devastating impact they can have on local communities, underscoring the need for continued collaboration between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to disrupt these criminal networks.