California Man Sentenced To More Than 24 Years For Role In Drug Trafficking Organization Conspiracy

Tampa, Florida - U.S. District Judge James S. Moody, Jr. today sentenced Sergio Godinez Del Toro (47, Napa, California) to 24 years and four months in federal prison for conspiring with others to distribute, and for aiding and abetting others in possessing with intent to distribute, 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Godinez Del Toro was found guilty on October 16, 2012, following a jury trial.

According to testimony presented at trial, Godinez Del Toro was a leader in a California-based drug trafficking organization (DTO) that was attempting to establish a methamphetamine and marijuana distribution network in central Florida. In January 2012, the DTO shipped eight pounds of marijuana to Haines City, sold the marijuana, and laundered the proceeds through banks in Pasco County.

In February 2012, the DTO attempted to transport twelve pounds of methamphetamine to Dade City, Florida from California, through Arkansas. The drugs were intercepted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Arkansas State Police, outside of Jonesboro, Arkansas.

In March 2012, the DTO shipped a total of 24 pounds of methamphetamine (valued at $320,000) to Dade City, in six separate UPS shipments. Godinez Del Toro arrived in Dade City on March 28, after the methamphetamine had been shipped, to oversee the distribution and transfer of the drug proceeds back to California. On March 30, he transferred at least $6,000 in drug proceeds through two separate banks. On April 5, 2012, the DEA and the Pasco County Sheriff's Office seized seven pounds of the methamphetamine and arrested Godinez Del Toro and two of his co-conspirators.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pasco County Sheriff's Office as part of an on-going Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation's drug supply. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher F. Murray.