UPS Insider Sentenced in Cocaine Smuggling Ring

BOSTON – A former United Parcel Service (UPS) employee is trading in delivery routes for prison stripes after being sentenced today for his role in a large-scale cocaine trafficking operation. Jorge Carrasquillo-Ortiz, 41, of Toa Baja, Puerto Rico, was handed a three-year prison sentence and two years of supervised release by U.S. District Court Senior Judge Rya Zobel, a fitting penalty for betraying the trust placed in him by a major shipping company.

Carrasquillo-Ortiz pleaded guilty back in January 2017 to one count of attempted distribution of 500 grams of cocaine. The scheme involved shipping cocaine-laden packages from Puerto Rico to Massachusetts, exploiting the very system designed for legitimate commerce. He wasn’t just an unwitting accomplice; Carrasquillo-Ortiz actively facilitated the drug flow, lining his pockets with dirty money.

According to court documents, Carrasquillo-Ortiz, while employed by UPS in Puerto Rico, worked directly for the drug trafficking organization. His job? To ensure the packages, brimming with cocaine, bypassed security and made it onto UPS airplanes headed for Massachusetts. The price for his services wasn’t small change – a cool $1,200 for each kilogram successfully delivered. That’s a hefty incentive to look the other way, or worse, actively assist in criminal activity.

The operation began to unravel in June 2016, when a cooperating witness started making recorded phone calls with Carrasquillo-Ortiz, detailing plans for a six-kilo shipment. The calls culminated in the delivery of a box containing “sham” cocaine to Carrasquillo-Ortiz in Puerto Rico. He then allegedly circumvented UPS security measures, placing the package on a flight bound for Massachusetts. Carrasquillo-Ortiz, expecting payment, made the fatal mistake of contacting the witness – and found himself facing arrest at his home in August 2016.

The bust was the result of a coordinated effort by multiple federal agencies. United States Attorney William D. Weinreb, alongside Michael J. Ferguson of the DEA, Colonel Richard D. McKeon of the Massachusetts State Police, Shelly Binkowski of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and Joel P. Garland of the IRS Criminal Investigation, all contributed to bringing Carrasquillo-Ortiz to justice. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric S. Rosen, from Weinreb’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit, skillfully prosecuted the case, ensuring a conviction and a sentence that reflects the severity of the crime.

This case serves as a stark reminder that criminal organizations will exploit any vulnerability, even within seemingly legitimate businesses. While Carrasquillo-Ortiz may have thought he was getting away with a lucrative scheme, his greed ultimately landed him behind bars. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on any further developments.

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