WORCESTER – The second of four defendants involved in a trafficking ring responsible for smuggling more than 20 kilograms of cocaine into central Massachusetts was sentenced on Tuesday in federal court in Worcester to three and a half years in prison.
Japhet Garcia, 33, of Worcester, previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute in excess of five kilograms of cocaine and possession with the intent to distribute over 500 grams of cocaine.
Additionally, Garcia was sentenced to two years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
As ThisWeekinWorcester.com reported last week, co-conspirator Jose Gonzalez, 38, of Worcester was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
An investigation conducted in connection with federal wiretaps revealed that in Dec. 2017, Gonzalez had been the intended recipient of a package mailed from Puerto Rico containing three kilograms of cocaine.
In Jan. 2018, more wiretaps and surveillance revealed Gonzalez participated in attempting to smuggle an additional six kilograms of cocaine from Puerto Rico.
In this scheme, Garcia, Gonzalez and others were using a U.S. Postal employee to retrieve the packages of cocaine.
As it unfolded, agents seized one of the packages — found to contain three kilograms of cocaine — and allowed the second to be delivered to the conspiracy members under continuing electronic and physical surveillance.
Authorities observed the postal employee deliver the package to a conspirator and then arrested several additional co-defendants. The second package was seized, and was found to contain another three kilograms of cocaine.
Over $40,000 in cash and drug ledgers documenting the sale of well over 20 kilograms of cocaine were also seized from Garcia’s residence during a search.
Along with Garcia and Gonzalez, two other co-conspirators are scheduled to be sentenced next month.
Co-defendant Deibby Garcia is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 1, and co-defendant Erick Cruz is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 8.
Another alleged member of the conspiracy, Caroline Cartagena, faces state charges.
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