United States Drug Enforcement Administration

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Jessie Acosta, 41, of San Pedro, California, was sentenced to more than 12 years (150 months) in prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute kilogram quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana throughout the Middle District of Alabama and Georgia, announced U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Assistant Special Agent in Charge Bret Hamilton and U.S. Attorney Louis V. Franklin.

Acosta’s sentencing is the last in a string of convictions that dismantled a sophisticated drug trafficking conspiracy that stretched from San Pedro, California to Alabama and Georgia. According to the evidence, the drug conspiracy consisted of 13 co-conspirators (including Jessie Acosta) who agreed to distribute kilogram quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana. 

Also sentenced were Jessie Acosta’s brother, Joseph Acosta, 30, of San Pedro, California and Vivian Ruvalcaba, 41, of San Pedro, California. Both Joseph Acosta and Vivian Ruvalcaba were prosecuted for their role in moving drug money between Alabama and California.

The case was investigated by the DEA and the following agencies: The Elmore County Sheriff’s Office, the Central Alabama Drug Task Force, the Millbrook Police Department, the Eufaula Police Department, the Auburn Police Department, the Lee County Sheriff’s Department, the Russell County Sheriff’s Department, the Columbus, Georgia Police Department, the Alabama Law Enforcement Administration, the Prattville Police Department, the Montgomery Police Department, the Alabama Attorney General’s Office, the Autauga County Sheriff’s Office, the Metro Drug Task Force, the Columbus Georgia Regional Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Troupe County Sheriff’s Office and the Alabama National Guard Counter Drug Unit.

Parents and children are encouraged to educate themselves about the dangers of drugs by visiting DEA’s interactive websites at www.JustThinkTwice.com, www.GetSmartAboutDrugs.com and www.dea.gov.

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