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Press Release

Daniel Castelo Sentenced to 120 Months in Federal Prison for His Role in Federal Drug Trafficking Organization

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

Memphis, TN – Daniel Castelo, 43, of Memphis was sentenced to 120 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the sentence today.

According to information presented in court, Castelo transported large shipments of cocaine, heroin, and marijuana, via 18-wheeler for his brother, Lorenzo Castelo’s drug trafficking organization. Castelo was charged with nine others in a 15-count superseding indictment on January 18, 2019. The indictment followed a six-month investigation involving agents of the FBI as well as other federal and state agencies in this joint operation.

On June 26, 2019, U.S. District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced Castelo to 120 months imprisonment. He was also ordered to serve five years supervised release. Judge Lipman also sentenced his brother Lorenzo Castelo to 300 months in federal prison along with five years of supervised release on January 18, 2019.

This prosecution is part of an extensive investigation by the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF is a joint federal, state and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations, and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Distribution of illegal narcotics is not a victimless crime. In order to prevent needless addiction, injury, violence, and death in our communities, we must disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking organizations that deliver this deadly poison to citizens in West Tennessee. This significant sentencing of the leader of the organization will do just that, and I commend our federal and local law enforcement partners for their impactful work in this important case."

"This sentencing demonstrates the strength of joint local, state, and federal law enforcement efforts to investigate and dismantle drug trafficking organizations that seek to pollute our communities," said M.A. Myers, Special Agent in Charge of the Memphis Field Office of the federal Bureau of Investigation. "The FBI, along with all of our law enforcement partners, will continue to pursue and bring to justice anyone who engages in these crimes."

"Identifying and investigating drug trafficking organizations is one of Homeland Security Investigations major priorities to protect the public from the serious harm these criminals inflict without any regard for the violence and public health damage they cause," said John Condon, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Nashville. "This case also illustrates the importance of collaborative working relationships between HSI and our federal, state and our local law enforcement partners to keep communities safe, and HSI is appreciative of their cooperation as well as the U.S. Attorney’s office in successfully bringing these individuals to justice."

MPD Director Michael Rallings said: "We will continue to work collective to identify and apprehend those who choose to bring illegal drugs through our city. We will not tolerate it and these criminals will be caught."

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Task Force; Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and the Memphis Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerry Kitchen and Gregory D. Allen prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

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Contact

Cherri Green
Public Affairs
Cherri.green@usdoj.gov
(901) 544-4231

Updated July 2, 2019