Florida Man: Over 21 Years In Prison For Drug, Gun Charges

WNC -- April 4, 2023: On March 30, 2023, U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger sentenced Jorge Luis Perez, 36,
of Wimauma, Florida, to 260 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for counts related to drugs and firearms.

The information was in a press relaease by the office Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of
North Carolina. 

In Jackson and Swain Counties, Perez distributed methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl between May and July 2020, according to court records and court hearings. Perez's drug trafficking activities in the region were discovered by law authorities during an investigation into drug trafficking networks operating in Western North Carolina. According to court documents, Perez purchased his medications from distributors in Mexico via Georgia. The pills were then delivered by Perez in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina. At Sylva, North Carolina, on May 21, 2020, Perez's car was pulled over by the police, according to court documents. During the stop, authorities found a weapon, $10,384 in US money, and a distribution quantity of methamphetamine. Perez misrepresented his winnings by saying they came from the Harrah's Cherokee Casino.

On July 13, 2020, police stopped Perez's car for a traffic infraction, according to court documents. Police discovered a set of digital scales and more methamphetamine than they had expected to find inside the car. A search warrant was carried out at Perez's camper later that day. Two firearms, additional methamphetamine, a money counter, many AR-15 magazines, and ammo were all taken by law officers from the camper. Law enforcement also discovered many wire transfer receipts that showed Perez was using fictitious identities and addresses to transmit money to Mexico. Moreover, Perez had a shrine inside the camper for Santa Muerte, a figurehead "patron saint" of the drug trade.

On January 5, 2022, Perez was detained in Florida on suspicion of crimes he allegedly committed in North Carolina. At the time, Perez had access to further methamphetamine distribution quantities. A kilogram of heroin and numerous additional ounces of methamphetamine were connected to Perez throughout the course of the trial.

On November 9, 2022, a federal jury found Perez guilty of possessing methamphetamine with the purpose to distribute it, possessing a weapon in furtherance of a narcotics trafficking felony, and possessing at least 50 grams of "actual" methamphetamine.

WNCtimes