Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Possession With Intent to Distribute Heroin

RENO - A Mexican national pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute nearly two pounds of heroin.

"Heroin is a highly addictive, destructive poison that destroys lives, tears families apart, and fuels a wave of fatal overdoses across our nation," said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. "By taking this trafficker off the streets, we have cut off a pipeline of a deadly narcotic and sent a clear message to those who profit from addiction: federal law enforcement will find you, dismantle your operation, and ensure you face the full weight of justice."

"Heroin continues to pose a severe public health threat, inflicting widespread harm on families and communities," said Brandon Lesky, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration Las Vegas District Office. "DEA is in lockstep with our HSTF partners, committed to cracking down on illicit drug trafficking and holding criminals accountable. No matter the quantity, any drug trafficker on our radar will be pursued."

According to court documents and statements made in court, on or about April 9, 2024, Juan Luis Curiel-Carrillo possessed 800 grams of heroin with the intent to distribute. Heroin is a Schedule I controlled substance.

Curiel-Carrillo pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. He faces a statutory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a statutory maximum penalty of 40 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled on February 16, 2027, before United States District Judge Anne R. Traum.

The DEA investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Steven Rose is prosecuting the case.

This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.

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