Cartel Member Pleads Guilty To Conspiracy To Distribute More Than Eleven Pounds Of Methamphetamine In Lee County

Fort Myers, Florida – Juan Carlos Gonzalez (37, San Diego, California) today pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute more than 11 pounds of methamphetamine. He faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to court documents, a DEA undercover agent (UC) made contact with Gonzalez after learning that he was associated with a drug trafficking organization operating out of Tijuana, Mexico. Gonzalez agreed to send a sample of his product, without payment, from California to the UC in Florida. The sample, which arrived in Fort Myers on April 17, 2017, was nearly two pounds of 99% pure methamphetamine. When Gonzalez and the UC discussed how much more product could be delivered in the future, Gonzalez said his supply was “unlimited.” In the following months, Gonzalez sent over nine more pounds of methamphetamine to the UC. DEA laboratory testing confirmed these later shipments were 100% pure methamphetamine.

On August 16, 2017, Gonzalez was arrested by federal agents at the San Ysidro port of entry coming from Mexico into California.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael V. Leeman.