United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald announced the sentencing of two individuals for conspiring to possess and distribute methamphetamine. GONZALO JIMINEZ-PAZ, JR., 22, was sentenced to 168 months in prison and REY DAVID LUNA-SANTILLANES, 22, was sentenced to 63 months in prison. Both defendants were sentenced by Senior Judge David S. Doty in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
United States Erica MacDonald said, “Mr. Jiminez-Paz ran a significant drug trafficking operation here in Minnesota. He employed a network of distributors, including his co-defendant Mr. Luna-Santillanes, who helped push dangerous drugs into our cities. This type of criminal activity threatens the health and safety of our communities and will be met with lengthy prison sentences."
According to the defendants’ guilty pleas and documents filed in court, beginning in January 2019, JIMINEZ-PAZ and LUNA-SANTILLANES entered into an agreement with each other and other individuals to distribute methamphetamine. On March 23, 2019, law enforcement officers with the Ramsey County Violent Crime Enforcement Team (VCET) executed a search warrant at a residence in the downtown area of Minneapolis. During execution of the search warrant, officers recovered approximately 64 pounds of methamphetamine, a large sum of U.S. currency, three pounds of heroin, a bag containing unidentified blue pills and two loaded handguns. The methamphetamine was found inside two suitcases in a bedroom closet, the heroin was hidden inside of a shoebox, and a large amount of cash was located in a kitchen cupboard.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the St. Paul Police Department, the Ramsey County VCET, the DEA, and the Minnesota State Patrol.
Assistant U.S. Attorney LeeAnn K. Bell prosecuted the case.
Defendant Information:
GONZALO JIMINEZ-PAZ, JR., 23
Minneapolis, Minn.
Convicted:
* Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, 1 count
Sentenced:
* 168 months in prison
* Five years of supervised release
REY DAVID LUNA-SANTILLANES, 23
Minneapolis, Minn.
Convicted:
* Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, 1 count
Sentenced:
* 63 months in prison
* Two years of supervised release
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
