Diego Castillo-Pedraza, 35, from Reading, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for methamphetamine trafficking. In July 2019, the FBI intercepted a package with six pounds of meth, which Castillo-Pedraza had directed to a Reading home. A wiretap investigation revealed his key role in the trafficking operation, according to the U.S. Attorney Office.
In 2024, Castillo-Pedraza was convicted after a three-day trial on charges of possessing and distributing over 500 grams of methamphetamine. He had been indicted in April 2023 for his role in selling the drug, which has significantly affected communities, including Reading. "For several years, Castillo-Pedraza profited by selling methamphetamine, a highly addictive and dangerous drug that’s plagued communities nationwide, including Reading," said U.S. Attorney Romero. He added, "Working together, my office, the FBI, and our Berks County partners will continue to target these traffickers for prosecution, to get them and the poison they’re pushing off our streets," as stated by the U.S. Attorney Office.
In March 2021, Berks County Detectives found two pounds of methamphetamine in a safe during a search of a home. The investigation, part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, led to charges against Castillo-Pedraza, whose fingerprints were found on the drug packaging. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison and five years of supervised release for his involvement in drug trafficking, as reported by the U.S. Attorney Office.
