A man from Houston, Texas, Jeffrey Daster Torres, has pleaded guilty to charges related to the distribution of fentanyl after traveling to the Mississippi Gulf Coast. These activities were part of a plan that included his co-defendant, Roberto Renteria-Guerrero, a 53-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Columbia, South America.
Court documents reveal that Torres and Guerrero were stopped by law enforcement while transporting nearly 200 grams of a substance containing fentanyl. During the traffic stop, officers also found that Torres had a fake driver’s license. Further analysis of their phones showed their involvement in drug trafficking and linked them to a previous trip to the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
"The DEA, with assistance from the Biloxi Police Department and South Mississippi Metro Enforcement Team are investigating the case," according to the office of the Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi.
Torres has admitted to charges including conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and interstate travel in aid of racketeering. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 24, 2025, and faces a potential prison sentence ranging from a minimum of five years to a maximum of 40 years. Guerrero, who previously pleaded guilty, faces similar charges and is due to be sentenced on August 14, 2025. A federal district court judge will determine their sentences based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Buckner and Hunter McCreight and is part of "Operation Take Back America," an initiative by the Department of Justice aimed at curbing illegal immigration, dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and safeguarding communities from violent crime.