Two Arizona Men Sentenced in Orlando Cocaine Conspiracy

ORLANDO, FL—U.S. Attorney A. Brian Albritton announces that U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven today sentenced Cipriano Velarde (age 38, of Phoenix, Arizona) and Cesar Nunez (age 29, also of Phoenix) for their participation in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine in Orlando. Velarde was sentenced to three years and four months in federal prison. Nunez was sentenced to one year and 10 months. A third conspirator, Gabriel DeLeon (age 37, from Mexico) was sentenced last week to five years and five months. All three men had pleaded guilty to the charges.

According to court documents, Velarde and Nunez were transporting nine kilograms of cocaine, hidden inside a rental truck, from Phoenix to Orlando, when they were stopped in Mississippi and agents found the cocaine. Agents transported the two men to Orlando with the cocaine, and arrangements were made over the telephone to deliver it to DeLeon, who was arrested when he arrived to pick it up.

This case was investigated by law enforcement agents in Mississippi and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Safe Neighborhoods Task Force. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Bruce S. Ambrose.