COLUMBUS, Ohio – The last three defendants in a large-scale cocaine trafficking operation between Puerto Rico and Ohio have been sentenced in federal court, including the ring leader, Herminio Gonzalez-Quintana, who received a 10-year prison sentence.
The drug trafficking organization, which shipped tens of kilograms of cocaine into Ohio, operated by sending parcels through the United States Postal Service and distributing the drugs locally.
Investigation Details
The conspiracy was first uncovered in 2021 when the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) began investigating the organization’s operations in Ohio.
Court documents reveal that the group sourced cocaine from Puerto Rico, packaging it in 2-3 kilogram increments and shipping it to Columbus under fictitious names. Packages were often sent to addresses of friends and family, and the drugs were redistributed across central Ohio and beyond.
Nearly 20 kilograms of cocaine were seized during the investigation, which resulted in indictments in November 2023.
Sentences Delivered
The defendants were convicted of charges related to conspiracy to distribute and possess cocaine. The sentences imposed are as follows:
| Name | Sentence |
|---|---|
| Herminio Gonzalez-Quintana | 10 years in prison |
| Abdel Padilla-Montero | 9 years in prison |
| Josaias Vazquez-Pinero | 5 years in prison |
| Jonathan Vega-Iglesias | 5 years, 6 months in prison |
| Jesus Maldonado-Ortiz | 5 years in prison |
| Rafael Alicea-Ruiz | 5 years in prison |
| Anthony Miranda-Gonzalez | 1 year, 1 day in prison |
| Pablo Joel Velazquez-Torruella | Time served |
Law Enforcement Response
Authorities described the operation as a significant pipeline for illegal drugs into Ohio.
“This case is a reminder of the DEA’s commitment to dismantling organized drug trafficking operations that harm our communities,” said an official involved in the investigation.
By dismantling this organization, officials say they have disrupted a major flow of cocaine into the region.