Panama: Five plead guilty in 'Operation Jericho' drug case, some to perform community service

In Panama City, a judge has validated five plea agreements in the "Operation Jericho" case, which involves drug trafficking charges. The agreements, reached with Kelly Soto, Carol Orantes, Carlos Rodríguez Vascombe, Richard Lamparero, and Alejandro Rodríguez, include prison sentences between 60 and 68 months. Some defendants also received fines of $250 or $500.

Notably, Judge Kerín Jaén approved the substitution of prison time with community service for Kelly Soto, Carol Orantes, and Carlos Rodríguez Vascombe. These individuals will complete their sentences through community work in San Miguelito and Chiriquí. Their legal representatives submitted documentation outlining the nature of their work and the supervisors.

The hearing did not include Abraham Rico Pineda, son of lawmaker Raúl Pineda, who is also implicated in the case for drug-related offenses and money laundering. With these five agreements finalized, 17 defendants remain, facing an intermediate hearing scheduled for February 1, 2027. The "Operation Jericho" investigation commenced on June 30, 2023, after authorities identified a group allegedly involved in drug trafficking and money laundering in connection with Colombia's Clan del Golfo.