Fulgencio Cardenas-Rivera, a 35-year-old resident of Houston, Texas, has pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. The plea was entered before United States District Judge Brandon S. Long on April 15, 2025. Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced the plea.
Court documents reveal that Cardenas-Rivera traveled into the Eastern District of Louisiana carrying approximately three kilograms of cocaine in the trunk of his car, intending to distribute the substance.
Cardenas-Rivera could face a mandatory minimum sentence of five years of imprisonment, with a possibility of up to 40 years. Additionally, he may face a fine of up to $5,000,000, at least four years of supervised release after any prison term, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
This case is part of an investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), which focuses on dismantling high-level drug traffickers and criminal organizations in the United States. The task force employs a multi-agency approach involving federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
The investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration's New Orleans Field Division Office, with assistance from the United States Border Patrol, the Louisiana State Police, the Kenner Police Department, and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution is being managed by Assistant United States Attorney Lynn E. Schiffman from the Narcotics Unit.