Calif. Man Charged With Cocaine Distribution & Money Laundering

PITTSBURGH – The grim halls of justice were shaken today as Gustavo Godinez, a Californian from Los Angeles, found himself staring down the barrel of federal charges. United States Attorney David J. Hickton dropped the hammer, announcing that the defendant had been indicted by a federal grand jury for violating federal narcotics and money laundering laws.

The two-count superseding indictment names Godinez, who has been accused of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine from April 2012 to January 2013. The allegations are as dark as the night, with charges of conspiracy to launder money thrown into the mix during the same time frame.

Godinez’s potential sentence reads like a scene out of a horror movie: he faces not less than ten years and up to life in prison, along with a fine that could soar to $10 million. The severity of his crimes and any prior criminal history will dictate the actual sentence, as per the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan B. Ortiz is leading the charge against Godinez, who now sits at the center of this federal storm. The investigation leading to these charges was a collaborative effort by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Pennsylvania State Attorney General’s Office, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, and the United States Postal Service.

As it stands, the superseding indictment is merely an accusation. Godinez is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The grimy details of this case are now laid bare for all to see, but the final chapter will be written in a courtroom where justice will be served.

This isn’t just another drug bust; it’s a story that plays out on the gritty streets of Pittsburgh and across the nation, highlighting the relentless effort to combat organized crime and financial malfeasance. It’s a tale as old as time, but one that Godinez may never live to tell again.

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