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Press Release

Member of Vermilion Parish Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Louisiana
 

LAFAYETTE, La.: United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that Jose Luis Regalado, aka “Tito,” 34, a member of a drug trafficking organization based out of Vermilion Parish, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote, to serve 20 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. The sentence was the result of Regalado pleading guilty on September 11, 2012, to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Cocaine.

Regalado 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. Evidence 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. Regalado and his co-conspirators
possessed and distributed kilos of methamphetamine and cocaine. The defendant admitted that he formed this drug organization, along with another co-conspirator, and was a decision maker in the organization, but could not speak English, so his brother began dealing with the Americans. Regalado had a source of supply in Arizona and developed a secondary source of supply for the conspiracy in Houston. The defendant's couriers were often armed with weapons while transporting the illegal substances. Regalado
acknowledged that he was specifically responsible for the distribution of approximately 10 kilograms of methamphetamine and approximately 5 kilograms of cocaine.

United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley stated, “Drug trafficking of any kind is a threat to our communities. This defendant was a part of a dangerous organization dealing in illegal narcotics in the Acadian area. The U. S. Attorney’s Office, along with the Drug Enforcement Administration and local and state law enforcement agencies, will continue to work in partnership to stem the flow of drugs into our neighborhoods. We are committed to holding drug dealers, from the couriers to the leaders, accountable to keep our communities safe.”

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

Updated May 17, 2017

Topic
Drug Trafficking