The United States Attorney=s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that twelve individuals previously charged either by indictment or information have all been sentenced in federal court in Scranton. The federal charges involved conspiracy to commit bank fraud, money laundering, and the manufacture of marijuana in Northeastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The last of the defendants, Antonio Figueredo was sentenced on Jan. 26, 2015.
According to United States Attorney Peter Smith, Carlos Guerra-Lescay, age 52, Eileen Mesa, age 37, Ernesto Huerta Martin, age 52, Jose Frias, age 44, all from Newark, New Jersey, Martha Leon, age 51, Carlos Leon, age 50, both from Naples, Florida, Jose Arias Perdomo, age 38, Florida, Milagros Vargas, age 35, from Hialeah, Florida, Vivian Cruz, age 50, and Figueredo, age 44, both from Easton, Pennsylvania, Evelyn Ugalde, age 38, from Hopatcong, New Jersey, and Osleivy Gomez, age 37, North Bergen, New Jersey were all charged in connection with the case.
The defendants engaged in a scheme to acquire properties with false financial information submitted to various financial institutions located across the country. The properties, located in the Brodheadsville and Gilbert area of Monroe County, PA, Newark, NJ and Miami, FL were then used to facilitate indoor marijuana growing operations. Search warrants were executed by the Pennsylvania State Police at three of the properties in August 2011.
The defendants were federally charged at various times in December 2013, and all defendants plead guilty. The defendants were all sentenced on various dates by United States District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani as follows:
Carlos Guerra-Lescay - sentenced to 60 months imprisonment of conspiracy to commit money laundering and manufacture, distribute, and possession with intent to distribute in excess of 100 marijuana plants. Guerra-Lescay is to pay $3,166,629.48 restitution.
Ernesto Heurta Martin - sentenced to 23 months imprisonment of conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possession with intent to distribute in excess of 100 marijuana plants.
Jose Arias Perdomo - sentenced to 18 months imprisonment of conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possession with intent to distribute in excess of 100 marijuana plants.
Eileen Mesa - sentenced to 3 years’ probation with 6 months house arrest/electronic monitoring for conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
Vivian Cruz - sentenced to 3 years’ probation with 6 months house arrest/electronic monitoring for conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Cruz is to pay $518,984.39 restitution.
Jose Frias - sentenced to 3 years’ probation with 6 months house arrest/electronic monitoring for conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
Osleivy Gomez - sentenced to 3 years’ probation with 6 months house arrest/electronic monitoring conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Gomez is to pay $430,305.84 restitution.
Carlos Leon - sentenced to 3 years’ probation with 6 months house arrest/electronic monitoring for conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Leon is to pay $299,368.36 restitution.
Martha Leon - sentenced to 3 years’ probation with 6 months house arrest/electronic monitoring for conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Leon is to pay $299,368.36 restitution.
Milagros Vargas - sentenced to 3 years’ probation with 6 months house arrest/electronic monitoring for conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Vargas is to pay $411,736.00 restitution.
Evelyn Ugalde - sentenced to 2 years’ probation with 6 months house arrest/electronic monitoring for conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Ugalde is to pay $126,360.42 restitution.
Antonio Figueredo - sentenced to 3 years’ probation for conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Figueredo is to pay $518,984.39 restitution.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service, and the Pennsylvania State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Olshefski.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
