EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14\/CBS4) \u2014 A federal jury convicted an El Paso man on three charges connected to fentanyl trafficking, the U.S. Attorney\u2019s Office for the Western District of Texas announced.<\/p>\n
Charles Arellano, 45, was under investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration as an alleged fentanyl dealer, according to court documents and trial evidence.<\/p>\n
During a fentanyl transaction in January 2025, prosecutors said Arellano claimed he had connections to multiple drug cartels and had been involved in drug trafficking for a long time.<\/p>\n
Authorities said Arellano fled to Mexico in early 2025. <\/p>\n
Mexican authorities apprehended him in June 2025 and returned him to the United States to face prosecution.<\/p>\n
Arellano was indicted in July 2025 alongside co-defendant Yvonne Beltran-Leyva. <\/p>\n
Beltran-Leyva pleaded guilty in October 2025 and was sentenced in April to 108 months, or nine years, in federal prison for her role in the fentanyl trafficking conspiracy.<\/p>\n
A sentencing date has not been set for Arellano. <\/p>\n
He faces a possible sentence of five to 40 years in federal prison.<\/p>\n
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