Matias Sanchez Cardosa, Jr., an Orlando man, has been sentenced to a substantial 14 years in federal prison for his role in a cocaine distribution network. The 53-year-old pled guilty earlier this year to charges relating to the possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of the drug.
In a case that unfolded over several months, Cardosa was implicated through the cooperation of a confidential informant with the DEA. The informant was in discussions with one Javier Alejandro Anaya-Leal regarding the purchase of cocaine, which eventually led to a meeting at Anaya-Leal's residence in Ruskin. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the courier, Cardosa, was found to be in possession of two bags; one containing about three kilograms of cocaine, and the other, approximately one and a half kilograms.
Upon leaving the premise to allegedly fetch money for the drugs, the informant tipped off DEA agents who swiftly apprehended the men. A search of Cardosa’s vehicle revealed a multi-colored bag in the trunk and a blue bag on the front passenger floorboard, both concealing brick-like packages of cocaine. A DEA forensic chemist confirmed the substance to be cocaine, amassing a total weight exceeding four kilograms.
Anaya-Leal has already entered a guilty plea, however, his sentencing is not due until November 1. The investigations, spearheaded by the DEA, were brought to prosecution by Assistant United States Attorney Shauna S. Hale. Cardosa's conviction is just one thread in the complex tapestry of drug trafficking that federal agents are continually unraveling in their quest to stymie the flow of narcotics within and across the United States.
