Two Orlando men who attempted to import 17 kilograms of cocaine from Mexico for distribution throughout Central Florida have been sentenced to multiple years in prison.
Joe Braiam Pinol Garcia, 30, and Hugo Morones Muñoz, 49, were sentenced by U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger this week and in June, respectively, in connection with their attempt to traffic 17 kilograms of cocaine from Mexico.
According to court records, Garcia and Muñoz traveled to Mexico on August 17, 2022. During their trip, Muñoz introduced Garcia to others he knew in Mexico in order to broker a large drug trafficking transaction.
The two men came to an agreement with others in Mexico to traffic 17 kilograms of cocaine into the United States and to sell the cocaine in the Central Florida area.
On October 3, 2022, 17 bundles of cocaine were sent through the border into Texas to be transported to Florida for the two men. Special agents from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Drug Enforcement Administrations intercepted the cocaine in Texas as part of an undercover operation. The agents set up a controlled, undercover operation in which they provided fake bundles of cocaine in order to identify the men purchasing the drugs.
On October 6, 2022, Muñoz and Garcia arrived at a prearranged parking lot and provided the undercover agents with the money for the transportation fee of the drugs. The men accepted a duffle bag with 17 kilograms of fake cocaine inside. They were arrested as they attempted to leave the parking lot.
Garcia was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine. On June 6, Muñoz was sentenced to 5 years and 10 months in federal prison for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and attempted possession of cocaine.