Methamphetamine Trafficker Sentenced To Federal Prison Again, For More Than 17 Years

Tampa, FL - U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday has sentenced Raul Carbajal (34, Plant City) to 17 years and 6 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine. Carbajal entered a guilty plea on November 21, 2023.

According to court documents, Carbajal, who was previously convicted in federal court for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, organized narcotics deals in the Plant City area, including three separate sales of approximately 1 kilogram of methamphetamine. Carbajal also admitted that he sold other narcotics, including cocaine.

Two of Carbajal's co-conspirators were previously sentenced to federal prison. Uriel Rosales Carvajal was sentenced to 7 years and 3 months, and Ricardo Heras received 3 years' imprisonment.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Plant City Police Department as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael R. Kenneth.