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| Roberto Gallegos-Lechuga, 39, of Sinaloa, Mexico |
A drug trafficker and money launderer for the Sinaloa Cartel was sentenced yesterday to 188 months in prison for supervising the smuggling of multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin from Mexico into the United States and the smuggling of drug proceeds from the United States to Mexico.
Roberto Gallegos-Lechuga, 39, of Sinaloa, Mexico, was extradited from Mexico to the United States in March 2020. In July 2021, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit international money laundering.
According to court documents, Gallegos-Lechuga coordinated the smuggling of large quantities of illegal narcotics through ports of entry in Southern California. Gallegos-Lechuga also supervised and managed couriers who smuggled hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash at a time, from the illegal sale of drugs, from the United States to Mexico as part of the cartel’s ongoing efforts to promote drug trafficking.
“This defendant was part of a violent transnational criminal organization that posed a danger to our communities,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “We will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law those who export dangerous narcotics to the United States and finance those activities through money laundering. I want to thank the Government of Mexico for extraditing Gallegos-Lechuga to the United States. Through such partnerships, we will continue to work to dismantle dangerous drug cartels.”
“Those who manage drug trafficking and money laundering efforts for the Sinaloa cartel, one of the most violent criminal organization in the world, will continue to face justice in this district,” said U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman for the Southern District of California. “Stopping the flow of funds to drug cartels and of deadly drugs into the United States continues to be a priority for us and our law enforcement partners.”
“This sentencing is the culmination of years of relentless work by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and its partners targeting the Sinaloa Cartel,” said Special Agent in Charge Chad Plantz of HSI San Diego. “This investigation highlights HSI’s dedication to go after both cartel drug trafficking and money laundering activity. The sentencing sends a resounding message to Transnational Criminal Organizations that HSI and our partners are unyielding in our pursuit of justice.”
Seven other defendants have previously pleaded guilty in the case and been sentenced: Omar Ayon-Diaz, Osvaldo Contreras-Arriaga, Cesar Hernandez-Martinez, Gibran Rodriguez-Mejia, Oscar Rodriguez-Guevara, Bianca Acedo Ojeda, and Joel Acedo Ojeda. In addition, approximately 20 other individuals linked to the scheme who served as drug and money couriers and drug stash house operators have entered guilty pleas and been sentenced in related cases.
The investigation was conducted by HSI. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Mexico to secure the arrest of Gallegos-Lechuga in Mexico and his extradition to the United States.
According to court documents, Gallegos-Lechuga coordinated the smuggling of large quantities of illegal narcotics through ports of entry in Southern California. Gallegos-Lechuga also supervised and managed couriers who smuggled hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash at a time, from the illegal sale of drugs, from the United States to Mexico as part of the cartel’s ongoing efforts to promote drug trafficking.
“This defendant was part of a violent transnational criminal organization that posed a danger to our communities,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “We will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law those who export dangerous narcotics to the United States and finance those activities through money laundering. I want to thank the Government of Mexico for extraditing Gallegos-Lechuga to the United States. Through such partnerships, we will continue to work to dismantle dangerous drug cartels.”
“Those who manage drug trafficking and money laundering efforts for the Sinaloa cartel, one of the most violent criminal organization in the world, will continue to face justice in this district,” said U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman for the Southern District of California. “Stopping the flow of funds to drug cartels and of deadly drugs into the United States continues to be a priority for us and our law enforcement partners.”
“This sentencing is the culmination of years of relentless work by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and its partners targeting the Sinaloa Cartel,” said Special Agent in Charge Chad Plantz of HSI San Diego. “This investigation highlights HSI’s dedication to go after both cartel drug trafficking and money laundering activity. The sentencing sends a resounding message to Transnational Criminal Organizations that HSI and our partners are unyielding in our pursuit of justice.”
Seven other defendants have previously pleaded guilty in the case and been sentenced: Omar Ayon-Diaz, Osvaldo Contreras-Arriaga, Cesar Hernandez-Martinez, Gibran Rodriguez-Mejia, Oscar Rodriguez-Guevara, Bianca Acedo Ojeda, and Joel Acedo Ojeda. In addition, approximately 20 other individuals linked to the scheme who served as drug and money couriers and drug stash house operators have entered guilty pleas and been sentenced in related cases.
The investigation was conducted by HSI. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Mexico to secure the arrest of Gallegos-Lechuga in Mexico and his extradition to the United States.
Sinaloa Lives Matter
ReplyDeleteSir Rambo
DeleteI regret to inform you that, the off duty LAPD officer did die. 3 men from BLM members are still out on the loose. Seat has hit a few homes on suspected members.
So far they are saying "I didn't do nuffin". It was a carjacking gone bad.The officer did fire back, unkown if he hit any.
Call civil rights lawyer Crumb from Nigeria. Is no where to be found. The great Al Sharpton won't return calls on BLM members killing a cop.
@7:54 Rest In Peace to the Law Enforcement Officer.
DeleteThe BLM Cartel needs to be designates as a terrorist group just like AlQaeda and ISIS.
Blue Lives Matter
DeleteHow do you know they were Black? It could have been tres hombres from Azusa 13 out to hit a lick.
DeleteAl Sharpton won't respond to calls when a cop is killed, but when a Black person is killed, he is ready to roll with his 3 pcs suit.
DeleteWe need to see more CJNG members in the US Court system.
ReplyDeleteAnd how would that change anything?
Delete8:05 yes.
DeleteThey need to send these guys to super max in Colorado the more the better do the crime do the time tired of seeing these bozos in the news every day they don't represent honest working Mexicans only idiots work or do business with them no honor.
DeleteSlap on the wrist.
ReplyDeleteHe will go back to sinaloa and do it again..
Unkown its USA, the fker is getting 15 years,then deported you fken call that a slap on the wrist lol 😂
Delete826 More like 7 years.
DeleteFederal prison 15 years.
Delete8:26 for running a drug ring, yes its a slap on the wrist.
Delete9:11 He will get time seved added to his sentance.
so no to the 7 years buddy
Federal prison isnt 100% time. But it is 85% and there is almost no chance to reduce that unless you cooperate or new laws but yeah out of those 15 he will do anout 13 years which as i mentioned is 85%. 85% in prison is considered "straight time"
DeleteThats a common mistake pppl make when they say in the feds you do all ur time because you dont get time off for doimg programs and dchool or anuthing like that from what ive been told
SOSA Correct, and that up to 15% reduction is based on behavior. Being that he was extradited only last year, likely wont get much credit for time served either.
Delete