Two Defendants Sentenced for Violating the Federal Controlled Substances Act

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - LUIS RIVAS, age 59, a Colombian citizen who was living in New Orleans, and ANGEL SANTIAGO HERNANDEZ, age 49, a Colombian citizen who was living in Houston, were sentenced on September 21, 2022 before the Honorable Jane Triche Milazzo on charges of violating the Federal Controlled Substances Act, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.

According to the court records, RIVAS, and HERNANDEZ each pleaded guilty to charges of possessing heroin and cocaine with the intent to distribute. HERNANDEZ admitted that he possessed approximately 3 kilograms of cocaine, a kilogram of heroin, and tens of thousands of dollars in cash during a traffic stop in August 2021. RIVAS admitted that he possessed with the intent to distribute a kilogram of heroin and several thousand dollars that police found at a residence in New Orleans where he was staying.

Judge Milazzo sentenced each defendant to 70 months in the Bureau of Prisons, to be followed by four years of supervised release. They were also ordered to pay a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.

This case was investigated by Special Agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney David Haller.