United States Drug Enforcement Administration

CHICAGO, Ill. — 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 a man has been sentenced to more than ten years in federal prison for trafficking cocaine in the Chicago area and obstructing justice by perjuring himself at trial.

JORGE DIAZ conspired in 2016 with two individuals in Mexico to traffic multiple kilograms of cocaine.  Diaz gave money to couriers to purchase the drugs in California and deliver them to Diaz.  In a Dec. 15, 2016, transaction arranged by the Mexican traffickers, Diaz received from a courier what he thought was 15 kilograms of cocaine.  Unbeknownst to Diaz and the Mexican traffickers, the courier was cooperating with law enforcement agents, who had replaced the cocaine with sham narcotics.  Law enforcement arrested Diaz following the courier’s delivery to him of the sham narcotics.  A subsequent law enforcement search of Diaz’s residence turned up nearly $23,000 in cash, a money counter, a bag full of cell phones, suspected drug ledgers, and other items.

Diaz, 35, of Calumet City, Ill., was convicted last year of conspiracy and attempted possession of cocaine.

U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman imposed a 124-month prison sentence on Feb. 29, 2024.  Judge Coleman found that Diaz obstructed justice at his trial last year by falsely testifying about the narcotics trafficking for which he was charged.  During his testimony, Diaz denied knowing that the courier was delivering drugs and claimed he only received the package as a favor to his brother.

The sentence was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Sheila G. Lyons, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the DEA.  The Cook County Sheriff’s Office provided valuable assistance.

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.  “In further aggravation, defendant perjured himself at trial, jeopardizing the integrity of the justice system and demonstrating a willingness to commit further crimes – lying under oath.”