Homeland Security Task Force: Ten Defendants Sentenced in South Florida Cocaine Trafficking Conspiracy

MIAMI – Ten defendants have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a South Florida cocaine trafficking conspiracy that involved cocaine supplied by a Mexican drug cartel and others. U.S. District Judge Darrin P. Gayles sentenced Reinaldo Fernandez, 63, to 188 months in federal prison; Javier Garcia-Mora, 40, to 60 months; Michel Garcia, 50, to 57 months; Renier Mendez, 46, to 57 months; Elvis Alfonso, 40, to 64 months; Alfredo Miranda, 63, to 70 months; Yaniel Cardenal Frias, 32, to 75 months; and Jorge Victor Herrero Gamez, 33, to 82 months. Each pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. Alberto Gonzalez, 39, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. Daniel Gerardo Torres, 55, was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine. “Mexican drug cartels do not get to establish a foothold in South Florida,” said U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “This organization brought cartel-supplied cocaine into our communities, moved drugs and bulk cash across the country, and even had a cartel representative sent to Miami to oversee its interests. Ten defendants are now headed to federal prison. Through the Homeland Security Task Force, we will continue dismantling these networks from the cartel to the street and holding everyone involved accountable.” According to court records, from at least September 2024 through September 2025, the defendants participated in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy operating throughout South Florida. Fernandez and other co-conspirators obtained cocaine from a Mexican drug cartel and other sources. Garcia-Mora, a Mexican national who was illegally present in the U.S., was sent to Miami by members of the cartel to oversee its interests in South Florida. Garcia, Mendez, and Alfonso served as drivers for the organization, transporting cocaine and bulk U.S. currency throughout the U.S. Miranda, Cardenal Frias, Herrero Gamez, Gonzalez, and Torres bought and sold cocaine to and from Fernandez and others in South Florida. As part of the investigation, law enforcement seized over $450,000 in narcotics proceeds. Juan Miguel Torna Rojas, William Padron Perez, and Ricardo Oramas Valdes remain fugitives. U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones and Special Agent in Charge Miles Aley of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Miami Field Division, made the announcement. DEA Miami Field Division investigated the case, with assistance from the City of Miami Police Department, Miami Springs Police Department, and Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daya Nathan prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandra Demirci is handling asset forfeiture. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Miami comprises agents and officers from the FBI and the City of Miami Police Department with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 25-cr-20438. ###