Antonio Curiel, Cocaine Possession, Indiana 2024

A California man has been sentenced to 108 months in prison for his role in a large-scale cocaine trafficking operation in Northern Indiana.

Antonio Curiel, 44, of San Ysidro, California, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Briscoe after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute over 500 grams of cocaine.

The crime occurred in March 2024, when Curiel was transporting more than 18 kilograms of cocaine from California to the East Coast in a vehicle. He was stopped by law enforcement in Northern Indiana, where he admitted to being paid for his transportation services, and that this was not his first time making such a trip.

Curiel's guilty plea was announced by Acting United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay. According to the government's case, Curiel's actions were part of a larger conspiracy to distribute cocaine in the region.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, including the DEA North Central Laboratory, with assistance from the LaPorte County Sheriff's Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joel Gabrielse.

Curiel's sentence includes 108 months in prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release.

The sentencing marks a significant victory for law enforcement in their efforts to combat the flow of cocaine into the region.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndin/pr/california-man-sentenced-108-months-prison