Drug Dealer Sentenced To 17 1/2 Years In Jail For His Participation In A Conspiracy To Import Drugs

SAN JUAN, P.R. – Yesterday evening, defendant Nick Irizarry-Rosado, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge José A. Fusté to serve a term of imprisonment of 17 ½ years for his participation in a conspiracy to import narcotics into Puerto Rico, announced today Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico.  The judge also ordered the forfeiture of multiple vessels, vehicles, and other assets named in the Indictment, as well as a parcel of land and house in La Parguera, Lajas, PR owned by Irizarry-Rosado.   

Irizarry-Rosado was one of thirteen individuals accused of conspiring to import multi-kilograms amounts of cocaine from the Dominican Republic and other places abroad into Puerto Rico on board of motor vessels.  The evidence obtained in this case showed that Irizarry-Rosado and other members of the drug trafficking organization would purchase motor vessels, to include a Wellcraft 33 feet and Bertram 46 feet to be used in the transportation of the narcotics by members of the conspiracy.  They would pay in cash for the purchase of such vessels and would arrange for the preparation of hidden compartments in the vessels to be used in the transportation of the narcotics by members of the conspiracy.  Once the narcotics were transported into Puerto Rico, some of the narcotics would be resold in Puerto Rico and some would be further transported to the continental United States for eventual resale.

The evidence against the drug trafficking organization included photographs, audio and video recordings.  Nine of the thirteen defendants, including Irizarry-Rosado pleaded guilty.  The two defendants who went to trial were convicted and are waiting to be sentenced.  They are facing sentences ranging from 10 years to life.  There is a defendant pending to be extradited from the Dominican Republic and another that is still pending trial.

The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carlos R. Cardona.