PHOENIX, Arizona – Miguel Angel Gaytan-Ramirez, 34, an undocumented Mexican National living in Phoenix, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge Diane J. Humetewa to 151 months, followed by three years supervised release. Gaytan-Ramirez pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl on November 5, 2024.

According to court documents, on January 25, 2024, an undercover agent working for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agreed to purchase 150,000 fentanyl pills (approximately 15 kilograms) from a member of a drug trafficking organization (DTO) in Mexico. The individual in Mexico instructed the undercover agent to travel to a parking lot in Phoenix to complete the transaction.

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By Staff Sgt. Abbey Rieves
355th Wing Public Affairs

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Christopher Rickenbach, 355th Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter, left, and his mother, right, attend a ceremony in Oro Valley, Arizona, Feb. 4, 2025. At the ceremony, Rickenbach was awarded the Red Cross Certificate of Merit for administering life-saving actions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Abbey Rieves)

DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. (AFNS) -- Staff Sgt. Christopher Rickenbach, a 355th Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, was awarded the Red Cross Certificate of Merit for administering life-saving actions, in Oro Valley, Arizona, Feb. 4.

The Red Cross Certificate of Merit is the highest award given to an individual who saved or sustained life using skills learned through Red Cross training.

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The Horton Fire burning northeast of Payson has burned 928 acres as of Dec. 27 and has caused the closure of an area, including the Tonto Creek Fish Hatchery, in the Tonto and Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests.

The closure will remain in place through Jan. 31, 2025, according to authorities.

"The public is asked to avoid the fire area,” read a Tonto National Forest statement. “The purpose of the closure order is to protect public health and safety during the Horton Fire, and to protect assigned firefighting personnel engaging in wildland firefighting operations.”

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On Friday, Feb. 16, 2024, detectives with the Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) Gang & Immigration Intelligence Team Enforcement Mission (GIITEM) arrested two suspects on drug and weapons related charges and seized 80 firearms from a Tucson residence and several storage units.

Detectives served a search warrant on a residential property near 5th Avenue and Rosemont Boulevard on Friday morning following an investigation related to illegal drug activity. Additional search warrants were also served at a nearby storage facility tied to one of the suspects.

During service of the residential warrant, detectives located heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl on the property.

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Location: Southwest of Sunflower Start Date: 07/22/2023 Cause: Under investigation
Size: 5,060 acres Containment: 50% Total Personnel: 90

Operational Update:
The Tonto National Forest Type 3 organization assumed command of the fire yesterday while the Southwest Incident Management Team demobilized from the incident. With the transition there was a significant decrease in resources from the fire. The type 3 team will staff the incident and continue with containment efforts, particularly on the southwest to northwest portion of the fire. This area is in very steep, rugged, rocky terrain and is still incredibly difficult for firefighters to access with a few heat signatures still lingering.

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On June 19, 2023, shortly after 11:30 a.m., an Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) state trooper stopped the driver of a Kia sedan near 21st Avenue and Thomas Road. During the traffic stop, the suspect driver opened fire on the trooper, striking him once. The suspect fled the scene in the vehicle. Phoenix Police located the vehicle, and the suspect was involved in a pursuit and shooting with Phoenix officers before crashing the vehicle into a wall near 36th Avenue and Virginia Avenue. The suspect was pronounced deceased on the scene.

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