Leader of national narcotics distribution operation pleads guilty

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — The leader of 11 defendants charged as part of a national narcotics distribution operation bringing drugs into Central Ohio from California pleaded guilty in federal court on Friday.

Isabel Castellanos and the other defendants were arrested in June 2022.

Castellanos transported narcotics from Los Angeles to Columbus via semi-truck, court documents said. Castellanos is a business owner of a transportation company and a semi-truck driver who often travels across the United States.

He delivered the narcotics to a co-defendant’s residence in Columbus, which served as a stash house. Co-conspirators then allegedly delivered the drugs to mid-level retail distributors. Those mid-level retailers then allegedly sold the drugs in Central Ohio, Youngstown, Ohio, Springfield, Ohio and in West Virginia, according to U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio Kenneth Parker.

According to Parker, Castellanos would then collect the drug proceeds before returning to California.

This case involves millions of dollars worth of the drug. It's believed to be the largest single fentanyl seizure in the Southern District of Ohio.

As part of the investigation, officers seized over 100 pounds of narcotics, including 115,000 fentanyl-laced pills that make up part of the 76 kilograms of total fentanyl, nearly half a million dollars in cash, 7 firearms and 4 vehicles.

Charges remain pending against 10 individuals from Columbus, Springfield and Youngstown, Ohio, and from West Virginia, and nine of those individuals have pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking conspiracy crimes.

Conspiring to distribute or possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl is a federal crime punishable by at least 10 years and up to life in prison.