A judge has sentenced Thaddaeus Sanchez Ruelas to 50 years and 6 months in prison. Ruelas sold more than 600 grams of methamphetamine to police informants and undercover agents between December 11, 2014 and April 8, 2015. Ruelas is also a five-time convicted felon.
“The good people of Tucson can sleep easier tonight knowing that this violent habitual offender is off the streets,” stated ATF Special Agent in Charge, Thomas G. Atteberry.”Today’s sentencing of Thaddeus Ruelas serves as a reminder that we will not tolerate the actions of these criminals in our community.”
The Arizona Attorney General’s Office worked with the ATF to prosecute Ruelas with assistance provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Border Patrol. In June 2016, a jury found Ruelas guilty of 19 felony counts including Conspiracy, Transportation for Sale of Methamphetamine, Possession of Heroin and Cocaine, Use of Wire Communications in Drug Transactions, and Misconduct Involving Weapons.