A Texas man has been sentenced to 87 months in prison for his role in a cocaine distribution conspiracy in Michigan.
Jaime Valente Pina, Jr., 32, of Alamo, Texas, was sentenced on July 11, 2017, in U.S. District Court for participating in a cocaine distribution conspiracy that operated in and around Muskegon and Oceana counties from the summer of 2015 until August 2016.
According to court documents, Pina was introduced to Magdaleno Rodriguez, a cocaine dealer operating in and around Oceana County, as a new source of supply for cocaine in the summer of 2015. Pina and his brother, Angel Pina, supplied cocaine to Rodriguez on a monthly basis for further redistribution throughout West Michigan.
The conspiracy ended in approximately August 2016 after officers of the State, Sheriffs, Chiefs, Enforcement Narcotics Team (SSCENT) concluded undercover buys from Rodriguez and executed a search warrant at his home. Officers of the West Michigan Enforcement Team (WEMET) apprehended the Pina brothers while executing a warrant at a drug house in Ravenna, Michigan in November 2016.
Pina was convicted on May 10, 2017, after a three-day jury trial. He was sentenced to 87 months in prison and three years of supervised release.
Magdaleno Rodriguez and Angel Pina pled guilty prior to trial. Rodriguez was sentenced to 98 months’ incarceration and four years of supervised release, while Angel Pina received 109 months’ incarceration and three years of supervised release.
The investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations, with the assistance of SSCENT and WEMET. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joel S. Fauson and Timothy P. VerHey prosecuted the case.
Key Facts
- State: Michigan
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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