Conspirators Who Brought More Than $600,000 And Handguns To Purchase Cocaine From Undercover Agents Sentenced To 15 Years

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza has sentenced Jacob Luis Bonilla-Rivera (27, Kissimmee) and Juan Omar Rodriguez, Jr. (21, Auburndale) to 15 years in federal prison, respectively, for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of that conspiracy. The court also ordered Bonilla-Rivera and Rodriguez to forfeit $639,325 in currency, two firearms, and a vehicle used in the commission of the offenses. Bonilla-Rivera Rodriguez had pleaded guilty in December 2020.  

According to court documents, starting on September 11, 2020, Bonilla-Rivera engaged in a series of phone calls with individuals he believed to be cocaine dealers but who were, in fact, undercover agents working on behalf of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). These discussions culminated in an agreement for Bonilla-Rivera to purchase 20 kilograms of cocaine in Orlando. On September 16, 2020, HSI agents met with Bonilla-Rivera and Rodriguez, where the conspirators showed HSI agents $600,000 in cash that they had brought to the deal in a hidden compartment in one of their vehicles.  After showing the agents the cash, Bonilla-Rivera and Rodriguez proceeded to a location where HSI agents had arranged to show them the cocaine to be purchased. After inspecting the cocaine, Bonilla-Rivera and Rodriguez returned to their car to retrieve the cash from the hidden compartment and were arrested. Upon searching both vehicles, HSI agents found that both Bonilla-Rivera and Rodriguez had possessed loaded firearms inside vehicles they had driven to the meeting, along with a total of $639,325 cash.

“This joint investigation into a transnational criminal organization illustrates how important our partnerships are in combating illegal drugs,” said HSI Orlando Assistant Special Agent in Charge David J. Pezzutti. “The sentencing and seizures associated with this case have made our community safer.”

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from Seminole County Sherriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dana E. Hill.