TUCSON, Ariz. (KVOA) — A federal court sentenced the self-described “Queen of the South” to 17 years in prison for leading a massive drug trafficking organization.
According to court records, Amanda Rachelle Miller, 35, of Tucson, directed the cartel-linked enterprise for more than three years while living as a fugitive in Mexico. A federal court handed down the sentence on Tuesday, Sept. 22, ordering Miller to pay a $25,000 fine and $25,000 in community restitution.
Miller supervised drug couriers, orchestrated bulk deliveries and managed cross-border money laundering, officials said. She also claimed to have conceived the idea for “rainbow fentanyl” to boost sales for the Sinaloa Cartel.
A federal court sentenced the self-described “Queen of the South” to 17 years in prison for leading a massive drug trafficking organization.
Several of Miller’s co-conspirators also received prison sentences. Alberto Gabriel Aranda-Ramon was sentenced on Aug. 26, 2025, to 16.5 years in prison for coordinating multi-kilogram drug deliveries and laundering proceeds through luxury vehicle purchases. Michele Oller was sentenced on Feb. 4, 2025, to 10 years in prison for supervising regional distribution and collecting commissions. Rodrigo Lopez-Lozoya was sentenced on Aug. 27, 2024, to 10 years in prison for transporting 17 kilograms of methamphetamine from a Tucson stash house. Yehoshua Kilp was sentenced to 14 years in prison for leading a drug cell tied to Aryan prison gangs that laundered money for Miller.
During the multi-year investigation, law enforcement officers seized more than $134,000 in cash, luxury items, 14 firearms, and eight vehicles. Agents also seized Aranda-Ramon’s high-end sneaker collection, which was donated to the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Southern Arizona to assist families experiencing poverty in central Tucson.
“These sentences reflect the strength of the partnership between federal, state, and local law enforcement in confronting one of the most prolific fentanyl trafficking networks operating in southern Arizona,” U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine said.
The prosecution was part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative, which includes local agencies like the Tucson Police Department and the Pima County Sheriff’s Office.