A cocaine-dealing operation that federal prosecutors say was run out of a Northwest D.C. apartment by a Mexican national who overstayed a tourist visa has ended with a year-long prison term.
Sergio Castillo‑Lopez, 29, was sentenced Friday to one year in federal prison after pleading guilty earlier this year to possession with intent to distribute cocaine. U.S. District Judge Amir H. Ali ordered Castillo‑Lopez to serve 12 months behind bars, followed by three years of supervised release.
Castillo‑Lopez entered his guilty plea on Jan. 21, 2026. Prosecutors had pushed for a 27-month sentence, but the judge went lower. According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Columbia, Castillo‑Lopez agreed not to contest removal once his prison term is complete. The office said the case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Washington Division and the Metropolitan Police Department, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Akhtar.
“Sergio Castillo‑Lopez came to the United States on a temporary visa, ignored the law for nearly a decade, and used that time to run a cocaine distribution operation,” U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said in the release. Pirro added that Castillo‑Lopez “will be deported after serving his jail term,” according to the same statement, which notes the case is listed under docket number 25cr374. U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Columbia.
Search warrant and seized evidence
According to investigators, the case took shape after officers executed a search warrant on Oct. 9, 2025, at a residence in the 3000 block of Warder Street NW. Inside, they reported finding nearly half a kilogram of cocaine with an estimated street value of about $12,000. Prosecutors say some of the stash was already broken down into gram-sized bags for sale. Officers also seized two digital scales and $3,126 in mostly small bills. As reported by The Washington Times, the case was prosecuted in federal court in D.C.
Legal implications and removal
By agreeing not to contest removal, Castillo‑Lopez set himself up for what is known as a stipulated removal order. Under that process, an immigration judge can issue a deportation order without holding a full hearing if the noncitizen admits they are removable and waives their rights to appeal. Federal regulations lay out how such a request and waiver are handled in immigration court. The procedure is detailed in 8 C.F.R. § 1003.25.
