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Silvestre-Ubri Gets 10 Years for PA Heroin & Meth Ring
SCRANTON, PA – Daniel Silvestre-Ubri, a 40-year-old citizen of the Dominican Republic, will spend the next decade behind bars after being sentenced to 120 months imprisonment on June 4, 2019, for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy. The sentence, handed down by United States District Court Judge James M. Munley, also includes a five-year term of supervised release. Silvestre-Ubri’s operation flooded Pennsylvania streets with deadly narcotics.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Silvestre-Ubri, alongside his brother and co-defendant, Willis DeLaRosa-Baez, and other unidentified individuals, conspired to distribute both heroin and crystal methamphetamine throughout Pennsylvania between February 4, 2016, and April 6, 2016. The investigation revealed Silvestre-Ubri wasn’t a street-level dealer – he was a supplier, feeding the habit of other drug peddlers.
The scope of the operation was significant. Silvestre-Ubri admitted to trafficking over 2.6 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine and 3 kilograms of heroin. Authorities estimate the heroin alone represents 120,000 potentially fatal doses – a staggering amount of poison unleashed on vulnerable communities. The man operated with blatant disregard for human life, prioritizing profit over the well-being of others.
Silvestre-Ubri entered the United States illegally and will face deportation upon completion of his sentence. He was originally indicted on May 17, 2016, but managed to evade capture for nearly two years, finally being arrested on March 8, 2018. His brother, DeLaRosa-Baez, was previously convicted and sentenced to 80 months imprisonment, and also faces deportation. The pair’s illicit activities are now over, but the damage they caused will linger.
The takedown was a collaborative effort, spearheaded by Homeland Security Investigations, the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General, and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Phillip J. Caraballo successfully prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide initiative aimed at reducing violent crime through partnerships between law enforcement and communities. The Department of Justice revitalized PSN in 2017, focusing on targeting violent criminals.
Furthermore, this prosecution falls under the umbrella of the “Heroin Initiative,” a district-wide program dedicated to combating the heroin epidemic ravaging the Middle District of Pennsylvania. The United States Attorney’s Office leads this coordinated effort, working with federal, state, and local agencies to dismantle heroin trafficking networks. The fight against drug trafficking in Pennsylvania is far from over, but this conviction sends a clear message: those who profit from addiction will be brought to justice.
Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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