A high-ranking member of a Philadelphia-based cocaine trafficking organization has been locked up for a decade, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
José Gonzalez, 51, of Philadelphia, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute over 5 kilograms of cocaine. The sentencing comes after Gonzalez pleaded guilty to his role in the organization, which purchased over 100 kilograms of cocaine from suppliers in Puerto Rico.
Court documents reveal that from March 2019 to August 2020, Gonzalez and other conspirators made frequent trips to San Juan, Puerto Rico, where they bought large quantities of cocaine and shipped them back to Philadelphia and southern New Jersey. The organization then resold the cocaine to other dealers in the area for profit.
When authorities arrested Gonzalez in August 2020, they seized over $120,000 in cash and a 9mm handgun from his residence and a Philadelphia auto garage he operated. As part of his plea agreement, Gonzalez agreed to forfeit the seized funds, the handgun, and a Dodge Ram pickup truck used in the conspiracy.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited a team of law enforcement agencies, including postal inspectors, FBI agents, and state troopers, with breaking up the organization and bringing Gonzalez to justice.
Judge Christine P. O’Hearn also imposed a five-year term of supervised release and ordered the forfeiture of $120,900, a 9mm handgun, and a Dodge Ram 3500 pickup truck. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick C. Askin of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Camden.
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- Worcester Three Guilty in Crack Cocaine Ring · Massachusetts
Key Facts
- State: New Jersey
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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