Two California siblings, Lorenzo A. Marquez and Adam A. Marquez, have been sentenced to decades in federal prison for their roles in a large-scale drug conspiracy supplying methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine to southeast Missouri.
U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr. sentenced Lorenzo A. Marquez, 32, to 360 months, and Adam A. Marquez, 28, to 204 months. A jury in March convicted both men of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, finding they supplied at least 500 grams of methamphetamine, 400 grams of fentanyl, and 500 grams of cocaine to co-conspirators.
Evidence revealed the brothers were California-based suppliers, using methods including commercial airline checked baggage to transport drugs to Missouri. Seizures included nearly 3,000 fentanyl pills in Nashville, approximately 60 pounds of methamphetamine and three pounds of cocaine intercepted in Detroit, and 20 pounds of methamphetamine, 4.5 pounds of cocaine, and 315 grams of fentanyl found in Perry County, Missouri. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Shelton said the Marquez brothers are "likely the most prolific drug suppliers ever prosecuted in the history of the Southeastern Division of the Eastern District of Missouri."
The Marquez brothers were indicted with six others in July 2023; all pleaded guilty. Javontrey L. Wiley, 25, received 144 months for providing security and managing lower-level participants. Fellow California-based supplier Oluwasegun Odumuyiwa, 52, was sentenced to 76 months.
A multi-agency task force, including the Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force, FBI, DEA, and Missouri State Highway Patrol, investigated the case. It is part of "Operation Take Back America," a nationwide initiative targeting transnational criminal organizations and drug trafficking.