Pennsylvania man sentenced to over 15 years’ imprisonment for drug conspiracy and possession of a firearm

PHILADEPHIA — An investigation led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Philadelphia resulted in the sentencing of Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, man to over 15 years’ imprisonment for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine hydrochloride and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. ICE HSI was supported by Pennsylvania State Police, Berks County District Attorney’s Office Detective Unit, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

LezFrank Vargas-Herrera, aka Christian Rivera Rios, 25, citizen of the Dominican Republic and unlawfully present in the United States, was sentenced on Sept. 11, 2017, to 181 months.

ICE HSI special agents in Lebanon County intercepted packages sent from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, to the United States between June and Oct. 2014. The packages contained kilogram quantities of heroin and cocaine hydrochloride concealed inside electronics and car parts. The seizure  involved at least nine kilograms of cocaine hydrochloride and seven kilograms of heroin (which equals approximately 280,000 retail bags of heroin). Vargas-Herrera was also found in possession of a Glock 9mm handgun, a loaded magazine and ammunition when he was arrested by law enforcement.

The following co-defendants were previously sentenced:

• Glauco Kelvin Celedonio-Smith, 20, sentenced to 180 months’ imprisonment.
• Wilson Herrera, 22, sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment.
• Felix Rodriguez-Pabon, 25, sentenced to 87 months’ imprisonment.
• Lional Martinez-Osaria, 30, sentenced to 68 months’ imprisonment.
• Yefries Guillan-Herrera, 24, sentenced to 57 months’ imprisonment.
• Wilfreddy Perez, 24, sentenced to 35 months’ imprisonment.
• Jose Pena-Herrera, 22, sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment.