Fernandez Convicted of Marijuana Trafficking, New York 2012
DANIEL FERNANDEZ, a 35-year-old Miami-based marijuana broker, has been found guilty of marijuana trafficking in Manhattan federal court. His conviction follows a two-and-a-half-week jury trial before U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain.
According to the charging documents and evidence presented at trial, FERNANDEZ was one of the principal suppliers of marijuana to Manuel Geovanny Rodriguez-Perez, the leader of a massive racketeering organization known as the Rodriguez Enterprise. From at least 2007 through October 2010, FERNANDEZ directly supplied Rodriguez-Perez with over a ton of marijuana, which was distributed throughout the New York City area.
FERNANDEZ was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute 1,000 kilograms and more of marijuana, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life. The charges against him arose out of a multi-year investigation titled “Operation Green Venom,” a coordinated multi-agency investigation led by Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (“ICE HSI”) and announced in October 2010.
With FERNANDEZ’s conviction, a total of more than 50 defendants have been convicted in United States v. Manuel Geovanny Rodriguez-Perez, et al., 10 Cr. 905 (LTS), and related cases. Those defendants include former Rock-a-fella music founder Kareem Burke, a/k/a “Biggs,” who received a sentence of 60 months in prison, and High Times Magazine editor Matthew Woodstock Stang, a/k/a “Magazine Guy,” who has not yet been sentenced.
U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara praised the outstanding investigative work of ICE HSI and the New York City Police Department, and thanked other law enforcement agencies for their assistance in the case. The investigation is continuing.
The prosecution of the cases arising from “Operation Green Venom” is being overseen by the Office’s Violent Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amie N. Ely, Sarah E. McCallum, Jessica Ortiz, and Sarah Paul are in charge of the prosecution. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Lockard is responsible for the forfeiture proceedings.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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