Pasco, Washington Man Sentenced in Federal Court
Spokane – William D. Hyslop, United States Attorney for the
Eastern District of Washington, announced that Braulio Jimenez, age 24, based
out of Pasco, Washington, was sentenced after having pleaded guilty on May 14,
2019, to Conspiracy to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Actual (Pure)
Methamphetamine, 5 Kilograms or More of Cocaine and 1 Kilogram or More of
Heroin, two counts of Money Laundering, and Possession with Intent to
Distribute 400 Grams or more of Fentanyl. Senior United States District Judge
Edward F. Shea sentenced Jimenez to an 18-year term of imprisonment, to be
followed by a 7-year term of court supervision after he is released from
federal prison, and imposed a $10,000 fine.
According to information disclosed during court proceedings,
this case arose from a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Task Force
investigation in Southern California. The Task Force identified a transnational
drug trafficking organization (DTO) and worked in an undercover capacity to
identify the DTO’s money laundering activities and locations in the United
States where the DTO was trafficking narcotics. Jimenez, who delivered $910,000
in cash drug proceeds to undercover agents, and other co-conspirators were
identified by FBI as members of the DTO. When investigators executed a warrant
to search Jimenez’s residence, he attempted to flee but was apprehended. Inside
Jimenez’s residence, investigators seized over 19,000 Fentanyl-laced pills, 40
pounds of heroin, 4 pounds of methamphetamine, 23 pounds of cocaine, $170,000
in U.S. currency, a cache of firearms including an AR 15 rifle, and ledgers
recording drug sales exceeding $6 million.
Senior District Judge Shea commented on the stunning amount
of narcotics and drug cash proceeds involved in the case and the damage the DTO
has done to the community. United States Attorney Hyslop said, “This case
highlights the joint commitment, dedication, and partnership between our state
and federal partners in combatting drug trafficking in our community. I commend
their outstanding work. This investigation made a substantial mark upon a
large-scale organization that had chosen Eastern Washington as a point of
operation. It is these types of investigations that bring into focus the
dangers drug trafficking organizations pose to our community.”
Today’s enforcement action is part of an Organized Crime
Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. The OCDETF program provides
supplemental federal funding to the federal and state agencies involved in the
investigation of drug-related crimes. This OCDETF investigation is being
conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms and Explosives.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of
Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force in Tri-Cities Washington, Cross Border
Violence Task Force (CBVTF) in San Diego CA, Kennewick Police Department,
Richland Police Department, Pasco Police Department, Benton County Sheriff’s
Office, and Washington Department of Corrections. This case was prosecuted by
Stephanie Van Marter, Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District
of Washington.
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