Defendant Conspired with Others to Distribute Narcotics in Brooklyn and Queens
Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, Jose Dagoberto Cortez-Perez, also known as “D.C.P.," a “chemist" or “cook" of illegal narcotics for a violent Mexican drug trafficking organization, was sentenced by United States District Judge Carol Bagley Amon to 10 years’ imprisonment for his involvement in a large-scale international narcotics distribution conspiracy. Cortez-Perez was apprehended in Minnesota and pled guilty on Sept. 25, 2017 to conspiring to import more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, more than one kilogram of heroin, more than five kilograms of cocaine and more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana. After serving his sentence, the defendant will face deportation from the United States.
Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced the sentence.
“A Mexican cartel employed Jose Dagoberto Cortez-Perez for his specialized skill improving the quality and purity of illegal and addictive narcotics, in particular methamphetamine," stated United States Attorney Donoghue. “Cortez-Perez travelled around the country on behalf of the cartel and enhanced the addictive nature of its narcotics, which ultimately increased demand and price for them. Today, drug trafficking organizations are on notice that we will bring the full weight of the law to bear on those activities that destabilize our communities." Mr. Donoghue extended his grateful appreciation to the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota, as well as the Chicago Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, for their assistance in the investigation and prosecution.
According to court filings and facts presented during court proceedings, the defendant was a member of a Mexican-based drug trafficking organization, which was responsible for the manufacture, importation and distribution of multi-ton quantities of heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana into the United States, including to locations in the Eastern District of New York. The defendant was a “chemist" or “cook" for the organization, and was sent to the United States to repair (or “clean") methamphetamine that was not sufficiently pure or had otherwise been contaminated. The defendant created a more desirable product that was then distributed across the United States, including Brooklyn and Queens. In May 2016, DEA agents searched two homes in Minnesota and discovered more than 140 pounds of methamphetamine, more than $130,000 in United States currency, evidence of an ongoing methamphetamine cleaning operation and drug paraphernalia. This seizure demonstrated a highly organized drug network responsible for the distribution of large-scale quantities narcotics.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Craig R. Heeren, Ryan C. Harris, Alicia N. Washington, G. Karthik Srinivasan and Michael P. Robotti are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
Jose Dagoberto Cortez-Perez
Age: 28
Residence: Sinaloa, Mexico
EDNY Docket No. 16-CR-241 (CBA)
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
