Drug trafficker sentenced to more than a decade in prison

SAN FRANCISCO – Daniel Jimenez was sentenced today to 10 years and 8 months in prison for his involvement in a cocaine and methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy, announced United States Attorney Alex G. Tse and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Chris Nielsen.  The sentence was handed down by the Honorable James Donato, U.S. District Judge.

Jimenez, 48, of Ballico, Calif., pleaded guilty to the charges on Dec. 5, 2017.  As part of his plea agreement, Jimenez acknowledged that he participated in a conspiracy to traffic cocaine and methamphetamine.  Jimenez admitted that he facilitated the storage of controlled substances intended for distribution.  He also admitted to assisting his co-defendants in receiving cocaine and methamphetamine and exchanging the cash proceeds of drug sales. 

Jimenez was arrested on Oct.13, 2015.  As part of his plea agreement, he admitted that on the day before his arrest, Oct.12, 2015, one of his co-conspirators came to his home to deliver cocaine and methamphetamine.  On the day of his arrest, law enforcement authorities executed a search warrant at Jimenez’s residence in Ballico.  Authorities found approximately 14.3 kilograms cocaine inside a hidden compartment in a Nissan Versa sedan parked in Jimenez’s garage, as well as digital scales, a money counter, packaging materials, and two handguns in Jimenez’s garage.  Authorities found approximately 1.3 kilograms of methamphetamine and $369,040 in U.S. currency inside of a hidden compartment in a Chevrolet SUV parked on Jimenez’s yard.  Authorities located approximately $2,589 in U.S. currency in Jimenez’s bedroom.

On Nov.19 2015, a federal grand jury indicted Jimenez, charging him and twelve co-defendants with, among other charges, conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.  Pursuant to his plea agreement, Jimenez pleaded guilty to that charge.  In addition to the 128-month prison term, Judge Donato sentenced Jimenez to a 5-year term of supervised release and 400 hours of community service.  The defendant has been in custody since his arrest.

Jimenez’s sentence brings to ten the number of defendants sentenced as part of the conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances in this case.  All twelve of Jimenez’s co-defendants have pleaded guilty.  The defendants are as follows:

During the course of this investigation, law enforcement seized more than 40 pounds of methamphetamine, more than 65 pounds of cocaine, more than 11 pounds of heroin, more than $1,200,000 in cash drug proceeds, and approximately twelve firearms. 

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christiaan Highsmith, Sheila Armbrust, Katie Burroughs Medearis, and Gregg Lowder are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Theresa Benitez, Ana Guerra, and Michelle Alter Eck.  The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the DEA, the Concord Police Department, and the IRS Criminal Investigations.  The investigation was conducted and funded by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, a multi-agency task force that coordinates long-term narcotics trafficking investigations.