Jorge Miguel Arteaga Medina, a 23-year-old Dallas drug trafficker who hid fentanyl pills inside his child's stuffed bear, was sentenced today to 97 months in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Arteaga Medina was initially charged via criminal complaint in April 2023 and later indicted that same month. He pleaded guilty in February to possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.
Court documents reveal that Arteaga Medina obtained fentanyl pills from a supplier in Mexico, identified by agents as "22," and sold them in the Dallas area. In February 2023, a confidential source purchased 171 grams of fentanyl pills from him during a recorded meeting, where Arteaga Medina encouraged the source to contact him for more pills if needed.
In April 2023, the confidential source reached out again to purchase more pills. Arteaga Medina claimed to have around 3,000 pills in his possession and mentioned he would need to contact his superior in Mexico if more were required.
Agents confronted Arteaga Medina about their investigation, and he admitted to having a large quantity of fentanyl pills in his apartment. He also disclosed having a Smith & Wesson handgun in the satchel he was wearing. He then led the agents to his apartment, where his wife and child lived, and showed them the stash. Some pills were found in his bedroom closet, while others were concealed inside his child's stuffed bear.
During Tuesday’s sentencing hearing, prosecutors presented evidence, including photographs of the pills hidden in the stuffed animal and posters in Arteaga Medina's home glorifying "Santa Muerte," a figure often associated with the drug trade.
The Drug Enforcement Administration's Dallas Field Division conducted the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney George Leal prosecuted the case.
