Illegal Alien Sentenced in D.C. to 97 Months for Brokering Fentanyl and Cocaine Deals From Texas Prison

WASHINGTON - Gilberto Paz Madrid, 41, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 97 months in federal prison for his role as a broker in a fentanyl and cocaine conspiracy while he was incarcerated in Texas for a previous heroin trafficking offense, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

"This illegal alien was already behind bars for trafficking heroin, yet he used a smuggled cellphone to broker fentanyl and cocaine deals aimed at D.C. streets," said U.S. Attorney Pirro. "Prison walls will not stop us from pursuing traffickers who endanger our communities, and when he finishes his sentence, he will face deportation."

Paz Madrid, aka "Taco," pleaded guilty on July 2 before Judge Timothy J. Kelly to conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams or more of cocaine. The 97-month prison term will be served after he completes a 10-year sentence for heroin trafficking out of the Eastern District of Virginia. Madrid faces deportation after serving his time in federal prison.

According to court documents, Paz Madrid was incarcerated and serving a 120-month sentence at FCI Beaumont in Texas in February 2024 when an individual sent a WhatsApp message to a contraband cellphone Paz Madrid was using in prison.

The individual claimed to have received Paz Madrid's number from a mutual acquaintance and explained that he was hoping Paz Madrid could broker an introduction to drug customers in the United States. In a later WhatsApp call, the individual stated that they could distribute both "F" (meaning fentanyl) and "blanco" (meaning cocaine).

During a subsequent call between the two, Paz Madrid added co-defendant Jermaine Horne to the conversation. Horne asked the price for a kilo of cocaine, which the individual indicated would be between $17,000 and $18,000. Paz Madrid also advised that individual that Horne and his associates could assist the individual with the "F" and "cuadros" (meaning fentanyl and kilograms, respectively).

On March 6, 2024, another person reached out to Horne via telephone. The person indicated that he was a courier working for the individual. The person asked, "So what you need?" Horne replied, "He told you right? He was saying you were bringing four." The person asked, "four or five?" Horne said, "I thought he said four but five, that's cool." The person clarified that they were told to deliver fentanyl. Horne responded that he was expecting "up" (meaning cocaine). The person ended that call by telling Horne that they needed to make sure everyone was on the same page and would call Horne back.

Following the call with Horne, the person called Paz Madrid. The two discussed the type of drug to be delivered to Horne. Paz Madrid indicated it would be the "blanco" (meaning cocaine). The person indicated that he could deliver four kilograms to Horne. The person later spoke again with Horne. Horne made clear that he wanted four kilograms of cocaine and one kilogram of fentanyl. The two made plans to meet the following week.

The narcotics were slated to be delivered March 14, 2024, to Horne in the District. However, Horne apparently saw surveillance vehicles in the area, and he did not enter the pre-arranged location to purchase the narcotics. In later conversations, Horne later told Paz Madrid that he did not like the location because it was near a police station, a message that Paz Madrid conveyed to the would-be supplier.

Horne pleaded guilty on July 28 to conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams or more of cocaine. Sentencing is pending.

This investigation was conducted by the FBI Washington Field Office with valuable assistance from the White County (Arkansas) Sheriff's Office, Nash County (North Carolina) Sheriff's Office, the Bureau of Prisons Office of Special Investigations, and the Metropolitan Police Department.

The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nihar Mohanty of the Violent Crime and Narcotics Trafficking Section.

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