US judge sentences 10 for cocaine trafficking linked to Mexican cartel

A federal judge in Florida has handed down sentences of up to 15 years and eight months for 10 members of a cocaine trafficking ring that distributed drugs supplied by a Mexican cartel in South Florida. The sentences were announced by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida.

U.S. District Judge Darrin P. Gayles imposed the most severe sentence on 63-year-old Reinaldo Fernández, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute at least five kilograms of cocaine. Seven other defendants also admitted to the same charge. Among them was Javier García-Mora, a 40-year-old Mexican national who allegedly was sent by the cartel to oversee its interests in South Florida and received a five-year sentence.

The network operated from at least September 2024 to September 2025, with Fernández and his associates acquiring cocaine from the Mexican cartel and other suppliers. Three members acted as drivers, transporting drugs and large sums of cash nationwide, while five others bought and sold cocaine within South Florida. The remaining nine sentences range from one year and nine months to six years and ten months, including two for defendants who admitted to lesser drug quantities.

During the investigation, authorities confiscated more than $450,000 in proceeds from cocaine sales. Three additional defendants in the case remain fugitives. "Mexican cartels will not establish themselves in South Florida," stated U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones. "This organization brought cartel-supplied cocaine into our communities, transported drugs and large amounts of cash across the country, and even sent a cartel representative to Miami to oversee its interests. Ten defendants will now go to federal prison."

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Mexican cartels will not establish themselves in South Florida. This organization brought cartel-supplied cocaine into our communities, transported drugs and large amounts of cash across the country, and even sent a cartel representative to Miami to oversee its interests. Ten defendants will now go to federal prison.