Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces that Gabino Peralta-Saucedo, a/k/a “Pony,” (43, Michoacán, Mexico) today pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and a quantity of heroin. Peralta-Saucedo faces a minimum mandatory term of 10 years, and up to life, in federal prison. Peralta-Saucedo was arrested in Mexico in September 2016, and was extradited to the United States in September 2018.

According to the plea agreement, for over a decade, Peralta-Saucedo coordinated the smuggling of thousands of kilograms of cocaine into the United States from Mexico. More than 12,000 kilograms of cocaine were ultimately sold in and around Manatee County on behalf of Peralta-Saucedo, who smuggled and distributed the drugs on behalf of various Mexican drug cartels, including La Familia Michoacán and Los Caballeros Templarios. Peralta-Saucedo also cooperated with other Mexican drug cartels, including the Gulf Cartel and Los Zetas, in order to get drugs across the border into the United States. In addition, coconspirators possessed and distributed heroin in the Tampa Bay area.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. The Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs and Attaché’s Office in Mexico City assisted with the extradition process. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher F. Murray.

This case was investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) program. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply.