infoColombian man extradited to Florida to face federal charges

Colombian man extradited to Florida to face federal charges

It has been alleged that between January and August 2018 former Master Sergeant Daniel Gould of the United States Army and Henry Royer, formerly of the United States Army and Army National Guard, conspired to distribute large amounts of cocaine, knowing it would be unlawfully imported into the United States.

Gustavo A. Pareja is alleged to be the source of supply of the cocaine in Bogota, Colombia. He has been awaiting international extradition proceedings for over a year. Last week, the United States Marshals Service flew from northern Florida to Bogota, wherein the Colombian authorities relinquished Pareja to American law enforcement in order for him to stand trial in Pensacola, Florida.

\u00e2\u0080\u009cAn apparent source of supply for cocaine into Pensacola has been knocked out,\u00e2\u0080\u009d said DEA Miami Field Division\u00e2\u0080\u0099s Acting Special Agent in Charge Keith Weis. \u00e2\u0080\u009cPareja is alleged to have participated in a highly brazen criminal scheme to open a pipeline into Northern Florida for illicit distribution that was shut down. Now, like others he conspired with, he will face serious federal narcotics trafficking charges as a result of his actions.\u00e2\u0080\u009d

If convicted, Pareja faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years up to life in federal prison.