A Mexican national, Israel Ortiz Velasco, 33, has been sentenced to 300 months in federal prison for his involvement in a conspiracy to launder money and import controlled substances into the United States. The sentencing was handed down by U.S. District Judge Danny C. Reeves.
Ortiz admitted that between June and December 2017, he worked with others to distribute fentanyl and cocaine. He knew these drugs would be illegally brought from Mexico into the United States for distribution. While based in Mexico, Ortiz coordinated with other individuals who supplied fentanyl and cocaine that were imported into the Eastern District of Kentucky. He acknowledged distributing kilograms of powder fentanyl, counterfeit pills containing fentanyl, and about 25 kilograms of cocaine.
Once the drugs reached Kentucky, proceeds from their sale were collected and sent back to Mexico through wire transfers, structured bank deposits, and other money laundering techniques.
Under federal law, Ortiz must serve at least 85 percent of his sentence before being eligible for release. After completing his prison term, he will be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for ten years.
Paul C. McCaffrey, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge at the DEA Louisville Field Division; Lawrence Weathers, Chief of Police at Lexington Police Department; and Phillip J. Burnett Jr., Commissioner of Kentucky State Police announced the sentencing.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Kentucky State Police (KSP). Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Bradbury prosecuted on behalf of the government.
This prosecution is part of a broader Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative created under Executive Order 14159: Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF brings together agencies including FBI, ATF, DEA, IRS, and HSI to combat criminal cartels and transnational organizations operating both within the United States and abroad. The task force emphasizes targeting crimes involving children as well as removing violent criminal aliens from the country.
