U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg | U.S. Department of Justice
A federal jury in Orlando, Florida, has found Billy Ruiz guilty of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute the drug. The 46-year-old from California faces up to 20 years in federal prison for each count. His sentencing is set for April 8, 2025.
Ruiz was initially indicted on April 6, 2017. Following his indictment, he managed to evade law enforcement until his arrest and subsequent arraignment in the Middle District of Florida on July 12, 2024.
Evidence presented during the trial revealed that Ruiz sold significant quantities of methamphetamine in March 2016 to a lower-level dealer for redistribution within central Florida. Operating from southern California, Ruiz and his co-conspirators shipped methamphetamine to Orlando via overnight delivery services. The drugs were then repackaged and distributed locally. Testimonies indicated that Ruiz sold two batches of methamphetamine, each weighing around two pounds.
The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration alongside the Lake Mary Police Department and the Orlando Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Robert Sowell and Chauncey Bratt are prosecuting the case.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) initiative aimed at identifying and dismantling high-level criminal organizations threatening the United States through a coordinated multi-agency approach led by prosecutors. More information about OCDETF can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
