A Sanford man, Jose’Luis Gabriel Villanueva, age 32, has been sentenced to seven years and eight months in federal prison for charges related to drug possession with the intent to distribute and unlawful firearm possession, as confirmed by the Department of Justice. The sentencing took place under U.S. District Judge Wendy Berger, following Villanueva's guilty plea on May 31.
Investigations into Villanueva's activities started in January 2022, after it was observed that his social media accounts featured images of large sums of money and substances suspected to be illegal narcotics; promethazine, a Schedule V prescription drug, and marijuana attracted the attention of law enforcement officials monitoring the pages, tailed by what they judged to be drug trafficking. A search conducted at Villanueva's residence on August 17, 2023, unearthed four firearms with ammunition—one being a short-barrel rifle—19 (16-ounce) bottles of promethazine, a hefty 103 grams of powder cocaine, and cash totaling $6,935, shedding light on the extent of his dealings.
Villanueva's criminal history isn't a stranger to serious charges—he had previously been found guilty of various felonies, including fleeing and eluding law enforcement, driving while his license was suspended, and driving under a revoked license, which under federal law bars him from the possession of firearms or ammunition.
