Jose Alberto Sandoval-Moya, formerly of Douglas, was convicted recently in federal court on charges of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine weighing more than 50 grams. The verdict was returned in United States District Court in Albany, Georgia, before the Honorable W. Louis Sands, Senior United States District Judge.
The conviction exposes Sandoval-Moya to a potential sentence of 10 years to life in prison.
Evidence presented during the trial showed that Sandoval-Moya conspired with Raymond Riviera Cortez, also of Douglas, and Corrinne Gillis of Fitzgerald to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. The evidence further revealed that Sandoval-Moya arranged for Gillis to travel to Mexico on three occasions to bring methamphetamine to South Georgia for distribution.
The conspiracy concluded when Gillis was arrested at the U.S./Mexico Border at the Matamoros, Mexico/Brownsville, Texas crossing in possession of over 17 kilograms (over 43 pounds) of 100% pure methamphetamine, the largest seizure ever made at that point of entry into this country. The drug had been hidden in the tires of the vehicle in order to smuggle it past authorities at the border. Each tire contained between 10 to 12 pounds of methamphetamine.
“The quantity of this seizure and the testimony at trial regarding the smuggling of other amounts on previous occasions show that Mr. Moya was without doubt a major source of methamphetamine in South Georgia. This conviction will remove a substantial supplier from the illegal drug stream in our state,” said Acting United States Attorney G. F. “Pete” Peterman, III.
The case was investigated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Sylvester Regional Office, the Coffee and Ben Hill County Sheriff’s Offices, and the Department of Homeland Security. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Leah McEwen.
Detectives and K-9 officers with the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office arrested Sandoval-Moya last April at a residence at Pete Evans Mobile Home Park in Douglas. He had eluded capture since Oct. 2014.
“Many hours of investigation went into this case by all agencies and, as a result, major drug traffickers were arrested and removed from dealing their poison in our local communities,” Coffee County Sheriff Doyle Wotten stated. “I want to thank all agencies and officers, to include the courts, for the hard work and dedication in removing these individuals from our communities.”