Three Fentanyl Traffickers Sentenced to Federal Prison

U.S. District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza has sentenced Luis Omar Rosa Cotto (32, Orlando), Alejandro Acevedo Luna (34, Apopka), and Juan Carlos Garcia (38, Apopka) to federal prison for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.

Luis Omar Rosa Cotto	Pleaded guilty on July 12, 2022.	Responsible for over 1.5 kilograms of fentanyl	Sentenced on November 7, 2022, to 10 years in federal prison
Alejandro Acevedo Luna	Pleaded guilty on July 6, 2022	Responsible for over 1 kilogram of fentanyl	Sentenced on January 6, 2023, to 15 years in federal prison
Juan Carlos Garcia	Found guilty at trial on October 17 to 19, 2022	Responsible for over 1 kilogram of fentanyl	Sentenced on January 6, 2023, to 10 years in federal prison.

According to court documents, Acevedo Luna and Garcia conspired to drive to a gas station in Apopka and sell more than a kilogram of fentanyl for $33,000. Garcia drove the vehicle and brought a loaded handgun with him, and Acevedo Luna brought the drugs and set up the deal. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) received information about the drug transaction and worked with the Apopka Police Department to conduct a traffic stop. After a search, the loaded handgun was recovered from the center console of the vehicle and the package of drugs was located in the backseat. Both men were arrested without incident.

On the same day, Rosa Cotto was determined to be the source of the fentanyl and a controlled purchase was set up by the DEA to buy an additional half kilogram of fentanyl. Rosa Cotto arrived at the buy location with the drugs, and he was arrested. A bag containing more than half a kilogram of fentanyl was found inside his vehicle. All of the drugs were tested by the DEA laboratory and determined to be p-Fluorofentanyl, which is an analogue of fentanyl and is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance. 

This case was investigated by the DEA Orlando District Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Apopka Police Department. It was prosecuted by the United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida. More information about this case can be found at https://www.flmd.uscourts.gov or https://ecf.flmd.uscourts.gov.

If you are aware of controlled substance violations in your community, please submit your anonymous tip through the DEA online Tip Line at Submit a Tip | DEA.gov.  Concerns about prescription drug abuse or diversion can be reported to the DEA through this link: RX Abuse Online Reporting (usdoj.gov).

Original source can be found here