Mexican Drug Smuggler Pleads Guilty in Florida

Yaqui for Borderland Beat from: Citrus County Chronicle

                                                  "El Pony" , Gabino Peralta-Saucedo

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — An organizer for multiple Mexican drug cartels has pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge for his role in smuggling thousands of kilograms of cocaine from Mexico into the United States.

The United States Attorney's Office in Tampa said Friday that 43-year-old Gabino Peralta-Saucedo of Michoacán, Mexico faces up to life in prison.

Federal prosecutors say more than 12,000 kilograms of cocaine was distributed around Manatee County on behalf of Peralta-Saucedo, also known as Pony. Prosecutors say he smuggled and distributed the drugs on behalf of various Mexican drug cartels, including La Familia Michoacán and Los Caballeros Templarios.

One of the most wanted alleged drug traffickers by the United States and Interpol, Gabino Peralta, "El Pony" , or "El Amigo" , wanted in 180 countries for the transfer of heroin and cocaine, was arrested by members of the Ministerial Police in this municipality, in Cuajilote, after intelligence investigations.     He was arrested in Mexico in 2016 and extradited to the U.S. in September.

Peralta Saucedo, had a warrant of arrest issued since 2012 since it has at least 10 properties in the state of Michoacán between the municipalities of Huetamo and San Lucas, as well as others in the state of Guerrero, its operational area. He also operated in the United States, where he has an arrest warrant in the state of Florida.

He is the son of the drug trafficker identified as "El Boni" Peralta, detained in Coyuca, Guerrero, in December 2015.

From: the US Justice Dept: Department of Justice ,U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Florida

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Friday, December 14, 2018

Organizer For Multiple Mexican Drug Cartels Pleads Guilty To Conspiracy Charge

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces that Gabino Peralta-Saucedo, a/k/a “Pony,” (43, Michoacán, Mexico) today pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and a quantity of heroin. Peralta-Saucedo faces a minimum mandatory term of 10 years, and up to life, in federal prison. Peralta-Saucedo was arrested in Mexico in September 2016, and was extradited to the United States in September 2018.

According to the plea agreement, for over a decade, Peralta-Saucedo coordinated the smuggling of thousands of kilograms of cocaine into the United States from Mexico. More than 12,000 kilograms of cocaine were ultimately sold in and around Manatee County on behalf of Peralta-Saucedo, who smuggled and distributed the drugs on behalf of various Mexican drug cartels, including La Familia Michoacán and Los Caballeros Templarios. Peralta-Saucedo also cooperated with other Mexican drug cartels, including the Gulf Cartel and Los Zetas, in order to get drugs across the border into the United States. In addition, coconspirators possessed and distributed heroin in the Tampa Bay area.   

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. The Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs and Attaché’s Office in Mexico City assisted with the extradition process. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher F. Murray.

This case was investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) program. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply.