Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares has announced that Francisco Celedon, a Mexican citizen, has been sentenced to 13 years in prison for intending to distribute over six kilograms of cocaine in Chesterfield County. Celedon, who was a drug courier for a Mexican drug trafficking organization, met with a law enforcement informant on April 17, 2023, to deliver the cocaine. However, law enforcement moved in and arrested Celedon when he arrived at the agreed-upon location outside a restaurant in Chesterfield County.
At the time of the offense, Celedon was already on federal supervised release for a prior drug trafficking crime in the Middle District of Alabama. As a result, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the possession with intent to distribute charge and an additional 3 years for violating his federal supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber, Attorney General Jason Miyares, Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget from the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Washington Division, and Chesterfield County Chief of Police Colonel Jeffrey S. Katz made the announcement of Celedon's sentencing, which was handed down by Senior U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erik S. Siebert, Shea Gibbons, and Ceasefire Virginia Assistant Attorney General/Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ellen Hubbard. This prosecution was part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation, which aims to identify, disrupt, and dismantle high-level criminal organizations that pose a threat to the United States.
Attorney General Miyares launched Operation Ceasefire in October 2022 to address gun and gang violence. This approach focuses on prosecuting repeat, violent offenders and ensuring they receive the maximum punishment. The operation also promotes group violence intervention strategies and works with local communities to reduce and prevent violent gun and gang crimes.
The Office of the Attorney General in Virginia is dedicated to protecting consumers and victims, with hotlines available for consumer protection and victim notification. The office also encourages reporting of Medicaid and Medicare fraud to combat healthcare fraud.
This conviction and sentencing serve as a reminder of the ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking and the commitment of law enforcement agencies to protect communities from the harmful effects of illegal drugs.
For additional details, please follow this link: https://www.oag.state.va.us/media-center/news-releases/2633-november-9-2023-attorney-general-miyares-announces-ceasefire-drug-trafficking-conviction