A Chicago man has been slammed with a sentence stretching over a decade behind bars for running a cocaine smuggling ring and then lying under oath. Jorge Diaz, 35, from Calumet City was handed a 124-month prison term by U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman on Feb. 29, officials said Thursday.
Diaz was found guilty last year of conspiracy and attempted possession of cocaine after partnering with two Mexican traffickers back in 2016. The failed operation involved Diaz giving cash to couriers to bag the drugs in California and ship them to his door. However, during a Dec. 15, 2016, bust, what Diaz thought was 15 kilograms of cocaine turned out to be fakes planted by undercover agents, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Illinois.
After the botched delivery, law enforcement discovered nearly $23,000 in cold cash at Diaz's residence, along with a money counter, hordes of cell phones, and what seemed to be drug transaction logs. Diaz, however, didn’t go down without a swing, taking the stand at his trial to deny all knowledge of the consignment, claiming it was simply a favor for his brother. The ruse didn't fool the court, leading to the hefty sentence for both the drug crimes and for his false testimony.
“The streets of Chicago are made immeasurably more dangerous because, of the drug trade,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Misty N. Wright argued, emphasizing the risks posed by such criminal activities. Wright's comments were part of the government’s argument to secure a tough sentence for Diaz, as the drug trade casts a long shadow over the city's safety, as per the U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Illinois.
Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Sheila G. Lyons, the DEA's Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Division, announced the sentence, noting the importance of cooperation among agencies. The Cook County Sheriff’s Office was credited with providing crucial support in the joint operation.
