Mexican drug trafficker sentenced to 30 years

PHILADELPHIA —  A Mexican national was sentenced Jan. 29 to 30 years in prison for drug trafficking following an investigation by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) led Philadelphia/Camden High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (PC HIDTA) Money Laundering and Drug Asset Forfeiture Task Force. 

Francisco Lopez, 37, a Mexican national formerly residing in Tuscon, Arizona, was the leader of an international drug trafficking organization which brought thousands of kilograms of marijuana from Mexico and laundered millions of dollars of drug proceeds. 

On May 14, 2015, a federal jury found Lopez guilty of conspiring to distribute 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana, conspiracy to commit money laundering, two counts of money laundering, distribution of 100 kilograms of marijuana, and illegal reentry after deportation.

Since January 2010, Lopez had been operating and overseeing the transport of drugs from Mexico in tractor-trailers or through Federal Express Freight to customers within the Philadelphia and New York City area. It is estimated the organization was grossing $4 million a month in drug sales. The cash from these sales was returned to Mexico via cars, tractor trailers, and numerous bank deposits through countless bank accounts, and with the assistance of associates throughout the country.

In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Paul S. Diamond ordered a $600 special assessment, five years of supervised release, and a forfeiture money judgment of $1,464,670.

As a result of the investigation, Lopez and 10 of his associates were federally prosecuted.  Of those, seven were convicted in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania; two were convicted by the Middle District of North Carolina; and one was convicted in the District of New Jersey.