Man Gets Over 16 Years in Prison for Importation of Fentanyl Pills

By City News Service
City News Service
City News Service
Breaking news gathering service based in West Sacramento, California, USA Gathering and distributing breaking news content via video, photographic and audio
March 20, 2023Updated: March 20, 2023

SAN DIEGO—A Riverside County man convicted of importing more than 80 pounds of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl into the United States was sentenced in San Diego federal court March 20 to more than 16 years in prison.

Moises Moreno, 38, of Moreno Valley, was found guilty by a jury of trying to smuggle pills inside his pickup truck at the San Ysidro Port of Entry on June 6, 2021.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said the pills were contained in 35 packages, which were hidden inside a false ceiling in the roof of the truck.

According to prosecutors, Moreno denied knowing the drugs were in his truck upon his arrest, but bragged about the smuggling attempt in a series of recorded jail calls.

He was sentenced Monday to 200 months in prison.