U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced five Bradenton residents to federal prison for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute the drug.
Clemente Betancourt (29) received a sentence of 15 years and 8 months, while Estevan Betancourt (20), Adonis Bonilla (29), and Omar Mejia (29) each were sentenced to 10 years in federal prison. Alexander Perez (30) was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months. All five individuals pleaded guilty to the charges.
According to court documents, the defendants were involved in a conspiracy to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine in Bradenton and throughout Manatee County. Clemente and Estevan Betancourt specifically distributed methamphetamine to others, including the co-defendants, with sales taking place at their Bradenton home and various other locations throughout the county. The conspiracy led to the distribution of more than 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine.
During the investigation, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the Betancourt residence, seizing three firearms, approximately one pound of methamphetamine, 22 cellphones, cocaine, and marijuana.
The case was investigated by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), which included Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The investigation also involved the Central Florida Gulf Coast High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), which includes local police departments and federal agencies. The prosecution was led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maria Guzman, David Sullivan, and Suzanne Nebesky.
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