Member Of Vermilion Parish Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced To 10 Years In Prison

LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that Francisco “Pancho” Delgado-Galaviz, 36, of Mexico and a member of a drug trafficking organization based out of Vermilion Parish, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote to 10 years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine.

Delgado-Galaviz, and 11 co-defendants were indicted in June of 2009 on a variety of drug trafficking and firearms charges, along with unlawful use of communication facilities. The Stipulated Factual Basis entered into by both parties at the time of the guilty plea revealed that this drug trafficking organization was responsible for the movement and sale of methamphetamine and cocaine from Mexico into the United States and distribution throughout the Acadiana area. Delgado-Galaviz and his co-conspirators possessed and distributed kilos of methamphetamine and cocaine. The defendant admitted that he, along with another co-conspirator, was a decision maker in the organization. Their source of supply was from Arizona, but they developed a secondary source of supply for this conspiracy in Houston. The defendant’s couriers were often armed with weapons while transporting the illegal substances. Delgado-Galaviz acknowledged that he was specifically responsible for the distribution of approximately 2 kilograms of methamphetamine and approximately 5 kilograms of cocaine. He is the last of 11-co-defendants to be sentenced.

“The arrests and convictions in this case resulted in the elimination of large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine being distributed from Mexico into the Western District of Louisiana,” Finley said. “The agencies involved in this case worked tirelessly to investigate and remove these dangerous criminals and drugs from our streets. My office, along with our federal, state and local partners, will continue in their efforts to bring drug dealers to justice.”

The Lafayette Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Post of Duty, the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Lafayette Metro Narcotics Task Force investigated the case. United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley prosecuted the case.