Statesville, North Carolina Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute 500 Grams or More of Cocaine

London, Ky. - On Monday, October 19^th, 2026, a Statesville, NC, man, Luis Ruiz-Mejia, 48, was sentenced to 156 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Robert E. Wier for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.

According to his plea agreement, from on or about September 30, 2024, to on or about April 2, 2025, in Harlan County, in the Eastern District of Kentucky, and elsewhere, Ruiz-Mejia conspired with others to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance. Specifically, during the above referenced time frame, Ruiz-Mejia served as the North Carolina-based source of supply for co-defendant Rey Velasco-Solis. On several occasions, Velasco-Solis traveled to Ruiz-Mejia's home, where Ruiz-Mejia supplied him with cocaine. Velasco-Solis then brought the cocaine back to the Harlan County, Kentucky area where he distributed it to others. In total, the DEA purchased approximately 434 grams of cocaine from Velasco-Solis, all of which was supplied by Ruiz-Mejia. Recorded phone calls between Ruiz-Mejia and Velasco-Solis revealed additional evidence, specifically, an agreement by Velasco-Solis to purchase an additional kilogram of cocaine from Ruiz-Mejia. A search of Ruiz-Mejia's home revealed several guns and additional quantities of cocaine.

On or about March 12, 2025, in Harlan County, Velasco-Solis was observed exiting the side door of the Sazon Restaurant and providing a cooperating witness a quantity of cocaine in exchange for cash.

Co-defendants Solis and another defendant, Guillermo Pelaez-Santiago, were sentenced earlier this year. Solis received 60 months in federal prison and Pelaez-Santiago received 8 months. All three subjects are illegal aliens; Pelaez-Santiago has already been removed.

Jason Parman, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Jim Scott, DEA, jointly announced the sentence.

The investigation was conducted by the DEA. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Blankenship prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

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