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News Release

Extradited Mexican Citizen Sentenced To Federal Prison For Conspiracy To Distribute Heroin (Photo) - 08/26/26

PORTLAND, Ore.—A Mexican man was sentenced to federal prison today for drug distribution.

 

Abel Resendiz-Villa, 42, was sentenced to 72 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release. This sentencing was significantly delayed because the defendant fled to Mexico before his previous sentencing hearing, in violation of his plea agreement. He was later found in Mexico and successfully extradited to the U.S. The United States Marshals Service Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force for the District of Oregon provided critical information with its Mexico Foreign Field Office to locate and extradite Abel Resendiz-Villa.

 

“Resendiz-Villa tried to escape the consequences of his criminal choices. The U.S. Attorney’s Office sees their cases through. As seen in this case, even fleeing the country won’t allow drug dealers to flee consequences,” said United States Attorney Scott E. Bradford.

 

“As was the case in this criminal investigation, drug traffickers who poison our communities with deadly fentanyl will be held accountable in a court of law. The DEA and our law enforcement partners and prosecutors remain steadfast in our commitment to keep communities safe from fentanyl by reducing demand, cutting off drug supply chains, and saving American lives,” said Robert A. Saccone, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Seattle Field Division.

 

According to court documents, Resendiz-Villa trafficked meth, heroin, and counterfeit oxycodone pills into the U.S. From on or about July 26, 2020, to, on or about July 30, 2020, Resendiz-Villa smuggled drugs in the U.S. to be sold and distributed in Portland.  Resendiz-Villa was arrested on August 29, 2020, crossing the U.S.-Mexico border on a motorcycle. Resendiz-Villa possessed 4.5 kilograms of heroin concealed in his motorcycle and helmet.

 

On July 25, 2022, Resendiz-Villa pleaded guilty to conspiracy with intent to distribute controlled substances. On January 6, 2023, Resendiz-Villa failed to appear for sentencing, and the court issued a warrant for his arrest.

 

On February 20, 2026, Resendiz-Villa was arrested by Mexican authorities on the warrant in Tijuana, Mexico. He was detained at his initial appearance after this re-arrest.

 

On August 20, 2020, a federal grand jury in Portland returned an indictment on Resendiz-Villa and his co-defendants. Resendiz-Villa was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute controlled substances, to use a communication facility and to maintain drug-involved premises.

 

This case was investigated by DEA with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Maloney.

 

The U.S. Marshals Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force is a multi-jurisdictional narcotics and fugitive task force that identifies, disrupts, and dismantles local, multi-state, and international drug trafficking organizations while locating and arresting violent fugitives and criminals. This is accomplished while using an intelligence-driven, multi-agency prosecutor-supported approach. The task force is supported by the Oregon-Idaho High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) and is comprised of investigators from the U.S. Marshals Service, Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Portland Police Bureau, Oregon State Police and covers the Districts of Alaska, Oregon, Eastern Washington, and Western Washington.

 

This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Portland comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, DEA, USMS, IRS-CI, ATF, USPIS, CBP, TSA, U.S. Coast Guard, Oregon Air, Army National Guard Counterdrug program, and Oregon-Idaho HIDTA with prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.

 

# # #

Attached Media Files: PDF Release,

Extradited Mexican Citizen Sentenced To Federal Prison For Conspiracy To Distribute Heroin (Photo) - 08/26/26

PORTLAND, Ore.—A Mexican man was sentenced to federal prison today for drug distribution.

 

Abel Resendiz-Villa, 42, was sentenced to 72 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release. This sentencing was significantly delayed because the defendant fled to Mexico before his previous sentencing hearing, in violation of his plea agreement. He was later found in Mexico and successfully extradited to the U.S. The United States Marshals Service Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force for the District of Oregon provided critical information with its Mexico Foreign Field Office to locate and extradite Abel Resendiz-Villa.

 

“Resendiz-Villa tried to escape the consequences of his criminal choices. The U.S. Attorney’s Office sees their cases through. As seen in this case, even fleeing the country won’t allow drug dealers to flee consequences,” said United States Attorney Scott E. Bradford.

 

“As was the case in this criminal investigation, drug traffickers who poison our communities with deadly fentanyl will be held accountable in a court of law. The DEA and our law enforcement partners and prosecutors remain steadfast in our commitment to keep communities safe from fentanyl by reducing demand, cutting off drug supply chains, and saving American lives,” said Robert A. Saccone, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Seattle Field Division.

 

According to court documents, Resendiz-Villa trafficked meth, heroin, and counterfeit oxycodone pills into the U.S. From on or about July 26, 2020, to, on or about July 30, 2020, Resendiz-Villa smuggled drugs in the U.S. to be sold and distributed in Portland.  Resendiz-Villa was arrested on August 29, 2020, crossing the U.S.-Mexico border on a motorcycle. Resendiz-Villa possessed 4.5 kilograms of heroin concealed in his motorcycle and helmet.

 

On July 25, 2022, Resendiz-Villa pleaded guilty to conspiracy with intent to distribute controlled substances. On January 6, 2023, Resendiz-Villa failed to appear for sentencing, and the court issued a warrant for his arrest.

 

On February 20, 2026, Resendiz-Villa was arrested by Mexican authorities on the warrant in Tijuana, Mexico. He was detained at his initial appearance after this re-arrest.

 

On August 20, 2020, a federal grand jury in Portland returned an indictment on Resendiz-Villa and his co-defendants. Resendiz-Villa was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute controlled substances, to use a communication facility and to maintain drug-involved premises.

 

This case was investigated by DEA with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Maloney.

 

The U.S. Marshals Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force is a multi-jurisdictional narcotics and fugitive task force that identifies, disrupts, and dismantles local, multi-state, and international drug trafficking organizations while locating and arresting violent fugitives and criminals. This is accomplished while using an intelligence-driven, multi-agency prosecutor-supported approach. The task force is supported by the Oregon-Idaho High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) and is comprised of investigators from the U.S. Marshals Service, Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Portland Police Bureau, Oregon State Police and covers the Districts of Alaska, Oregon, Eastern Washington, and Western Washington.

 

This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Portland comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, DEA, USMS, IRS-CI, ATF, USPIS, CBP, TSA, U.S. Coast Guard, Oregon Air, Army National Guard Counterdrug program, and Oregon-Idaho HIDTA with prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.

 

# # #

Attached Media Files: PDF Release,