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Press Release
Press Release
Spokane – William D. Hyslop, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that Braulio Jimenez, age 24, based out of Pasco, Washington, was sentenced after having pleaded guilty on May 14, 2019, to Conspiracy to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Actual (Pure) Methamphetamine, 5 Kilograms or More of Cocaine and 1 Kilogram or More of Heroin, two counts of Money Laundering, and Possession with Intent to Distribute 400 Grams or more of Fentanyl. Senior United States District Judge Edward F. Shea sentenced Jimenez to an 18-year term of imprisonment, to be followed by a 7-year term of court supervision after he is released from federal prison, and imposed a $10,000 fine.
According to information disclosed during court proceedings, this case arose from a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Task Force investigation in Southern California. The Task Force identified a transnational drug trafficking organization (DTO) and worked in an undercover capacity to identify the DTO’s money laundering activities and locations in the United States where the DTO was trafficking narcotics. Jimenez, who delivered $910,000 in cash drug proceeds to undercover agents, and other co-conspirators were identified by FBI as members of the DTO. When investigators executed a warrant to search Jimenez’s residence, he attempted to flee but was apprehended. Inside Jimenez’s residence, investigators seized over 19,000 Fentanyl-laced pills, 40 pounds of heroin, 4 pounds of methamphetamine, 23 pounds of cocaine, $170,000 in U.S. currency, a cache of firearms including an AR 15 rifle, and ledgers recording drug sales exceeding $6 million.
Senior District Judge Shea commented on the stunning amount of narcotics and drug cash proceeds involved in the case and the damage the DTO has done to the community. United States Attorney Hyslop said, “This case highlights the joint commitment, dedication, and partnership between our state and federal partners in combatting drug trafficking in our community. I commend their outstanding work. This investigation made a substantial mark upon a large-scale organization that had chosen Eastern Washington as a point of operation. It is these types of investigations that bring into focus the dangers drug trafficking organizations pose to our community.”
Today’s enforcement action is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. The OCDETF program provides supplemental federal funding to the federal and state agencies involved in the investigation of drug-related crimes. This OCDETF investigation is being conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force in Tri-Cities Washington, Cross Border Violence Task Force (CBVTF) in San Diego CA, Kennewick Police Department, Richland Police Department, Pasco Police Department, Benton County Sheriff’s Office, and Washington Department of Corrections. This case was prosecuted by Stephanie Van Marter, Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.