Jesus Manual Hernandez, a 33-year-old resident of Charlotte, has been sentenced to 151 months in prison for methamphetamine trafficking. The sentence also includes five years of supervised release, as announced by Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Court documents reveal that from March 2021 to September 2022, Hernandez and his co-defendant, Wilber Guadalupe Baldenebro Medina, conspired to distribute methamphetamine in the Charlotte area. Law enforcement used confidential sources during their investigation to purchase over 2.2 kilograms of methamphetamine from Hernandez. Additionally, records indicate that Hernandez organized the distribution of fentanyl pills and powder in Montgomery, Alabama.
Hernandez pleaded guilty on November 30, 2023, to charges related to methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy and distribution. He remains in federal custody and will be transferred to a federal facility upon designation.
Medina was previously sentenced on September 27, 2023, receiving a 15-year prison term after pleading guilty to similar charges.
U.S. Attorney King praised the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for their roles in this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. The OCDETF aims to dismantle high-level criminal organizations using a multi-agency approach.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Erik Lindahl prosecuted the case.
