Date: 08-12-2024

Case Style:

United States of America v. Jairo Morales

Case Number: 3:22-cr-00021

Judge: Kim R. Gibson

Court: The United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania (Allegheny County)

Plaintiff's Attorney: The United States Attorney’s Office in Pittsburgh

Defendant's Attorney:

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Description:

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with Transnational Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering Operation
Arizona Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Role in Transnational Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering Operation

Jairo Morales, 22, on August 8, 2024. Morales was one of 35 defendants charged through a Second Superseding Indictment unsealed in January for their participation in a domestic and international narcotics and money laundering conspiracy involving substantial quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine.

From in and around August 2021 to in and around June 2023, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Morales conspired with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, and 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Further, from in and around April 2022 to in and around March 2023, Morales conspired with others to commit money laundering. Morales was intercepted on a federal wiretap obtaining quantities of cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine that he distributed to others. The Court found that Morales was responsible for conspiring to distribute 7.48 kilograms of cocaine, 83 kilograms of fentanyl, and 72 kilograms of methamphetamine and that Morales possessed firearms in connection with that drug trafficking activity.

Assistant United States Attorney Arnold P. Bernard Jr. prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

United States Attorney Olshan commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Laurel Highlands Resident Agency and Homeland Security Investigations for the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Morales. Additional agencies participating in this investigation include the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, and other local law enforcement agencies.

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

Updated August 12, 2024

Outcome:

Defendant was found guilty and sentenced to 180 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

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