Paniagua-Pizano Efren, Cocaine Distribution, Indiana 2024

A Fort Wayne man has pleaded guilty to cocaine distribution charges, according to court documents obtained by the Grimy Times.

Efren Paniagua-Pizano, 25, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, entered a guilty plea before Magistrate Judge Roger Cosbey to the felony offense of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine.

Paniagua-Pizano’s guilty plea comes after an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Assistant United States Attorney Lesley Miller-Lowery is prosecuting the case.

Under federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the judge after a consideration of the case.

Paniagua-Pizano has 10 days in which to object to the magistrate judge’s recommendation.

This is not the first time a Fort Wayne resident has faced charges related to cocaine distribution. In a separate case, Jose Noe Perea Casteneda, 40, of Goshen, Indiana, also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine.

Another case involving Gerardo Martinez-Gaston, 42, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, resulted in a sentence of 6 months imprisonment (time served) and 1 year of supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offense of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine.

The cases highlight the ongoing efforts of law enforcement agencies to combat cocaine distribution in the region.

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