Honduran National Sentenced To Seven Years In Prison For Illegally Reentering The United States And Selling Drugs Near A School

SAN FRANCISCO – Olvin Didier Centeno-Gamez was sentenced to 84 months in prison for illegally re-entering the United States after deportation and possessing with intent to distribute drugs within 1000 feet of a school, announced U.S. Attorney Alex G. Tse and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Ryan L. Spradlin.  The sentence was handed down today by the Honorable Susan Illston, U.S. District Judge.

Centeno-Gamez, 36, a citizen of Honduras, pleaded guilty to the crimes on June 22, 2016. In pleading guilty, Centeno-Gamez admitted that on April 18, 2018, he was in San Francisco’s Tenderloin District and in possession of heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine that he intended to distribute.  At the time of his arrest, Centeno-Gamez was within 1000 feet of a local elementary school.  Centeno-Gamez further admitted he illegally re-entered the United States after having been deported on five previous occasions between 2009 and 2017.  

A federal grand jury indicted Centeno-Gamez on May 17, 2018, charging him with three counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance within 1000 feet of a school, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841 and 860(a), and one count of illegal re-entry into the United States after deportation, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1326(a) and (b)(2).  Centeno-Gamez pleaded guilty to all counts in the indictment.   

In addition to the prison term, Judge Illston ordered Centeno-Gamez to serve a six-year period of supervised release.  Centeno-Gamez is currently in custody and will begin serving his sentence immediately.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey Boome is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Marina Ponomarchuck.  The prosecution is the result of an investigation led by HSI with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration.