United States Drug Enforcement Administration

CHICAGO — Sheila Lyons, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration-Chicago Field Division, and Acting U.S. Attorney Morris Pasqual for the Northern District of Illinois announced that a man has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison for trafficking heroin and cocaine in the Chicago area.

From 2015 to 2022, Alfonso Hidalgo-Gomez obtained heroin and cocaine from Mexico and distributed the narcotics in the Chicago area. During his trafficking activities in the Chicago area, Hidalgo-Gomez was accountable for distributing at least 13.4 kilograms of narcotics. At least two other individuals worked for Hidalgo-Gomez, distributing drugs at his direction.

Hidalgo-Gomez, 37, of Chicago, pleaded guilty earlier this year to a drug conspiracy charge. U.S. District Judge Jorge L. Alonso imposed the sentence on Dec. 13, 2023, after a hearing in federal court in Chicago.

Joining DEA Chicago SAC Lyons and Acting U.S. Attorney Pasqual in making the announcement were Robert W. “Wes” Wheeler, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the FBI Chicago Field Office, and Ruth M. Mendonça, Inspector-in-Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

The case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug trafficking organizations and other criminal networks that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local enforcement agencies.

“The streets of Chicago are made immeasurably more dangerous because of the drug trade,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Misty N. Wright argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum.  “People like defendant perpetuate the drug trafficking crisis in Chicago and all that goes with it, including addiction, crime, and violence.  This type of activity endangers our communities.”