California Man Convicted On Federal Drug Charges
TAMPA, Fla. - Mark R. Trouville, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement (DEA), Miami Field Division, and Robert E. O'Neill, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida, announces that a federal jury found Sergio Godinez Del (46, Napa, California) guilty yesterday of conspiracy to distribute, and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Del Toro faces a mandatory minimum term of ten years in federal prison, and a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. His sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled. Del Toro was indicted on April 17, 2012.
According to testimony presented at trial, Del Toro was a leader in a California-based drug trafficking (DTO) that was attempting to establish a methamphetamine and marijuana distribution network in central Florida. In January 2012, the DTO shipped eight pounds of marijuana to Haines City which were sold and then the drug proceeds were laundered through banks in Pasco County.
In February 2012, the DTO attempted to transport twelve pounds of methamphetamine to Dade City from California, through Arkansas. The drugs were intercepted by DEA agents outside of Jonesboro, Arkansas.
In March 2012, the DTO shipped twenty-four pounds of (valued at $320,000) to Dade City in six separate shipments. On March 28, 2012, Del Toro arrived in Dade City after the methamphetamine had been shipped, to oversee the distribution and transfer of the drug proceeds back to California. On March 30, 2012, Del Toro transferred approximately $6,000 in drug proceeds through two separate banks. On April 5, 2012, the DEA and the Pasco County Sheriff's Office seized seven pounds of methamphetamine and arrested Del Toro and two of his co-conspirators.
This case was investigated by the DEA Tampa District Office and the Pasco County Sheriff's Office, as part of an on-going Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task (OCDETF) investigation. 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.
