A California man has been found guilty of conspiracy and distribution of methamphetamine following a federal trial in Florida.
Billy Ruiz, 46, faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each count. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 8th, 2025.
Ruiz was indicted in April 2017 but evaded authorities for years before finally being apprehended and arraigned in the Middle District of Florida in July 2024.
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Evidence presented during the trial revealed that Ruiz sold large quantities of methamphetamine to a lower-level drug dealer in central Florida in March 2016. Operating from southern California, Ruiz and his co-conspirators shipped the methamphetamine to Orlando via overnight delivery. The drugs were then repackaged and distributed throughout the region.
The evidence showed that Ruiz sold two separate batches of methamphetamine, each weighing approximately two pounds.
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This case was the result of a collaborative investigation involving the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Lake Mary Police Department, and the Orlando Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorneys Robert Sowell and Chauncey Bratt prosecuted the case.
This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF utilizes a multi-agency approach to identify, disrupt, and dismantle high-level criminal organizations involved in drug trafficking.
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