Destin Duo Sentenced in $350K Drug & Money Scheme

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – The stench of weed and dirty money finally caught up to two Destin men this week. Benjamin Guerrero-Lantz, 21, received a 65-month federal prison sentence yesterday after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute over 100 kilograms of marijuana and conspiracy to commit money laundering. His accomplice, Andres A. Barrios, 27, is already serving a 120-month sentence handed down May 18, 2017, for the same conspiracy charges, plus possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

The pair weren’t street-level pushers. According to U.S. Attorney Christopher P. Canova for the Northern District of Florida, Guerrero-Lantz and Barrios were actively laundering profits from a larger, California-based drug operation. They funneled at least $350,000 through a network of eight bank accounts, masking the cash with illicitly obtained money orders – dozens worth $500 each – and registering vehicles under false names. This wasn’t about a few bucks; it was a sophisticated attempt to hide a significant flow of illegal funds.

The bust started with a simple smell. In July 2016, cops responded to complaints about the aroma of marijuana emanating from Guerrero-Lantz’s condo. What they found was a treasure trove of criminal evidence: $17,000 in cash, detailed handwritten ledgers tracking drug debts, marijuana itself, vacuum-sealed bags, a stack of money order receipts, and vehicle titles. A search of Guerrero-Lantz’s vehicle turned up even more money order receipts and a bank transaction receipt for $9,000. The walls were closing in.

The investigation didn’t stop there. In December 2016, authorities intercepted Guerrero-Lantz and associates in Jackson, Mississippi, with over $10,000 in cash, bank deposit slips, more money orders, and a collection of burner phones. Simultaneously, a raid on a Destin residence uncovered Barrios, along with 13 one-pound bags of marijuana, another $10,000 in cash, and further proof of the conspiracy. Adding insult to injury, Barrios was also found in possession of a firearm and body armor – clearly prepared for a fight.

This wasn’t a lone operation. The takedown was a joint effort by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Pensacola Police Department, and the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg skillfully prosecuted the case, bringing these criminals to justice.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, one of 94 nationwide, serves as the federal government’s primary legal force. Public court documents related to this case are available online at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For additional information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html. This case serves as a stark reminder that even complex criminal enterprises will eventually crumble under the weight of investigation and prosecution.

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