LAKE CHARLES, La. - United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that a Mexican citizen was sentenced to 30 months in prison for taking part in a conspiracy to transport and sell cocaine.
Omar Sanchez Ortuno, 23, of Puebla, Mexico, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Patricia Minaldi on one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine. He was also sentenced to four years of supervised release. According to the Feb. 12, 2016 guilty plea, law enforcement agents monitored a deal and delivery involving Ortuno on April 29, 2014. Omar delivered 1.5 kilograms of cocaine from Houston to cocaine distributors in Lake Charles. The vehicles involved in the deal were stopped and the individuals involved were arrested, and authorities seized the vehicle, cocaine and $33,000 in cash. The agents had been investigating Ortuno and his co-conspirators prior to his arrest. The investigation revealed multiple deliveries of cocaine from Ortuno to his Louisiana contacts, who then redistributed the cocaine in smaller amounts in the Lake Charles community. Ortuno was identified by law enforcement as a delivery person or runner, and as a minor participant.
Homeland Security Investigations, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, Louisiana State Police, and the Calcasieu Parish Anti-Drug Task Force conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Myers P. Namie prosecuted the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
