Four Men Sentenced In Honduran Heroin Trafficking Conspiracy

Two men from Honduras and two local men have been sentenced in federal court by Chief U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw, Jr., for their involvement in a Honduran heroin-trafficking conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Don Cochran for the Middle District of Tennessee.

Andrew Morris, 30, of Hendersonville, Tenn., was sentenced on Friday to 120 months in prison.  In October, James Whitley, 24, of Nashville, Tenn., was sentenced to five years in prison and Victor Cardoza, 26, and Diego Hernandez, 31, both of Honduras, were sentenced to 18 months and five years in prison, respectively.  Both are subject to deportation at the conclusion of their sentence.

All were indicted in April 2016 and later pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin and distribution of heroin.

“Drug traffickers who continue to fuel the opioid epidemic facing this nation will be aggressively sought and prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners,” said U.S. Attorney Cochran.  “Significant federal prison sentences await those who are convicted of trafficking opioids and there is no parole in the federal system.”

According to court documents, members of the conspiracy utilized a network of telephone numbers which distributors and users would call and request heroin. A dispatcher would then direct them to specific locations in the Nashville area before sending a person to the area to complete the transaction.

During the investigation and while dismantling the operation, investigators seized over $10,000 in cash, seven vehicles, over 7.5 ounces of methamphetamine, 6 ounces of heroin and 15 grams of cocaine during the operation.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the 18^th Judicial District Drug Task Force and the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ahmed A. Safeeullah.