Detroit Man Sentenced For Role In Large-Scale Drug Trafficking Ring
Sunday, November 17, 2024, 7:00 A.M. ET. 3 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,
BAY CITY, MI.- A 51-year-old Detroit, Michigan man learned that he will be 111 years old when he is released from federal prison after being sentenced on Wednesday to six decades for being the leader of a large-scale drug trafficking operation that distributed large quantities of deadly narcotics throughout the Saginaw-Bay area.
On Wednesday, November 13, 2024, Ricardo Delgado, II, 51, of Detroit, appeared in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan and was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Thomas L. Ludington to 720 months in federal prison after being convicted in June 2024, on multiple Drug Trafficking offenses.
Delgado Convicted At Trial
In June, following a week-long trial, a Federal Jury found Delgado guilty of Conspiracy to Possess with Indent to Distribute and to Distribute Five Kilograms or More of Cocaine; Possession with Intent to Distribute Five Kilograms of Cocaine; Possession with intent to Distribute 400 Grams or More of Fentanyl; Possession of a Machinegun in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; Possession of a Machinegun; Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person “Convicted Felon;” Possession of an Unregistered Silencer; and Use of a Communication Facility to Commit a Drug Offense.
According to U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison and evidence presented at trial, Delgado was the leader of a large-scale drug conspiracy that involved the importation of numerous kilograms of cocaine and fentanyl from Mexico for distribution in the Saginaw-Bay, Michigan region.
During the investigation, agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation learned from a court-authorized wiretap that Delgado was planning retaliation for the theft of his illicit narcotics from an associate and had ordered the associate to exact revenge. However, the plan was thwarted by federal agents.
Federal Agents Seize Narcotics
At the culmination of the investigation and Delgado’s arrest, federal agents uncovered and seized 13 kilograms of cocaine, 2 kilograms of fentanyl, twelve firearms, including two machine guns and two silencers, and over $200,000 in U.S. currency, from Delgado’s residence.
“This defendant endangered countless individuals by trafficking in large quantities of deadly fentanyl and cocaine. He sought to use violence to protect his trade in illicit drugs,” stated U.S. Attorney Ison. “This sentence should serve as a stark warning that our office will zealously pursue those who seek to bring illegal drugs and violence into our community.”
“Today’s sentencing of Ricardo Delgado, a notorious drug trafficker, marks a critical milestone in our ongoing efforts to combat the fentanyl crisis and protect the public from its devastating effects,” stated Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “The FBI Michigan remains firmly committed to addressing the dual threats of illegal firearms trafficking and drug distribution that endanger the safety of our communities.”
