California Man Pleads Guilty to Heroin Conspiracy

Hattiesburg, Miss – Juan Pablo Zamora Gomez, 32, of Modesto, California, pled guilty yesterday before U.S. District U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge J. Derryle Smith.

Zamora Gomez pled guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute heroin from August 2017 through December 13, 2017. He will be sentenced on September 18, 2018, by Judge Starrett, and he faces a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine.

The investigation into Zamora Gomez started after agents with the DEA executed a search warrant at Jermaine Newell’s property in Soso, Mississippi. Agents located 951 grams of heroin in Newell’s possession. After Newell’s arrest, agents learned that he received the heroin from Zamora Gomez and Vincente Manuel Ruiz. Agents had recorded phone calls in which Zamora Gomez was heard discussing the heroin and set up a meeting to further the conspiracy.

Jermaine Antonio Newell, 32, of Gautier, Mississippi, was sentenced on May 10, 2018, to 60 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin. Vincente Manuel Ruiz will be sentenced by Judge Starrett on July 17, 2018. He faces a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and the Jones County Sheriff’s Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathlyn R. Van Buskirk.