LOS ANGELES – A notorious prescription pill trafficker has been brought to justice. Felix Gabriel Alderete, an Argentine national, was sentenced to one year in prison for his role in a massive conspiracy to traffic over 700,000 tablets of prescription drugs.
Alderete, 30, pleaded guilty in January 2013 to the offense, admitting that in 2010, he had picked up packages from mailbox facilities in the Los Angeles area that had been sent by express mail from overseas. The packages contained tens of thousands of tablets of Lorazepam, Diazepam, Alprazolam, Ketamine, and Sibutramine.
On October 22, 2010, a search of a storage unit that Alderete had visited and for which he had paid rent resulted in the discovery of nearly 60 boxes of over 700,000 tablets and over 5,000 empty pill bottles and bottles with labels. A search of an apartment that Alderete shared with others uncovered nearly 1,000 tablets along with labels and pill bottles, as well as a computer containing spreadsheets documenting sales of pharmaceuticals to customers throughout the country.
Alderete left the country shortly after the searches were conducted and he was arrested when he tried to reenter the country in October 2012. In pronouncing the sentence, United States District Judge Percy Anderson observed that the defendant had participated in a ‘serious offense’ for over seven months that warranted a custodial sentence.
The case is the product of an investigation by the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
According to court documents, the discovery of the storage unit and apartment was a major breakthrough in the case, leading to the arrest of Alderete and others involved in the conspiracy.
Felix Alderete’s sentencing marks a significant victory for law enforcement in the fight against prescription pill trafficking, a growing concern in the United States. The case serves as a reminder of the devastating impact of prescription pill abuse and the importance of holding those responsible accountable for their actions.
The investigation and prosecution of Alderete’s case is a testament to the dedication and expertise of the law enforcement agencies involved, who worked tirelessly to bring this serious offender to justice.
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Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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