NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced today that JHON ALBEIRO PINEDA JIMENEZ, age 37, and PEDRO ANTONIO JIMENEZ, age 65, both Colombians, pled guilty yesterday before United States District Judge Martin L.C. Feldman to Count 1 of their Indictment, which charged conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine hydrochloride while upon the high seas on board a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, under Title 46, United States Code, Sections 70503(a)(1) and 70506(a) and (b), and Title 21, United States Code, Section 960(b)(1)(B)(ii).
According to court documents, PINEDA JIMENEZ and JIMENEZ while aboard a small fishing vessel southwest of the Panama/Costa Rica border, were arrested by the U.S. Coast Guard. Hidden aboard the vessel was over 113 kilograms of powder cocaine.
Each defendant faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, a maximum life sentence, a possible $10,000,000 fine, and at least 5 years of supervised release after his term of incarceration.
Sentencing is scheduled before Judge Feldman on July 24, 2019.
U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of the United States Coast Guard and the United States Department of Homeland Security in investigating this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U. S. Attorney Brandon S. Long.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
