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, were sentenced on Sept. 25, 2019 after previously pleading guilty to 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 were arrested by the U.S. Coast Guard while the two were aboard a small fishing vessel southwest of the Panama/Costa Rica border. Hidden aboard the vessel was over 113 kilograms of powder cocaine.
United States District Judge Martin L.C. Feldman sentenced PINEDA JIMENEZ, the captain of the vessel, to 78 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release. Judge Feldman sentenced JIMENEZ to 60 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of the United States Coast Guard, the United States Department of Homeland Security, and United States Customs and Border Protection 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
