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LAWRENCEVILLE, GA – A major drug dealer was convicted of trafficking more than 17 kilograms of methamphetamine.
A Gwinnett County jury on Friday, March 28, found Jose Luis Sandoval guilty of trafficking methamphetamine, after he was arrested with a cache of the illegal narcotic in June 2023
“Dangerous drugs like this are not tolerated in Gwinnett County,” Gwinnett District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson said. “We are pleased with this result. Thank you to the jury for this verdict and to our team for closing this case.”
Sandoval was sentenced to 30 years to serve 25 years in prison custody.
On June 26, 2023, Sandoval was stopped by a Gwinnett County Sheriff’s deputy for failing to maintain lane. He had a cell phone in his lap and admitted to the deputy that he did not have a driver’s license.
A Sheriff’s Office K-9 on the scene alerted to the presence of drugs, and deputies found 17.5 kilograms (more than 38.5 pounds) of methamphetamine along with $18,070 in cash inside the SUV Sandoval was driving. DEA agents interviewed him on the scene, and he admitted to knowingly picking up approximately 20 kilos with the intention of delivering it to Alabama on behalf of a Mexican drug trafficking organization.
DA’s Drug and Gang Task Force Assistant District Attorney Brian Trepanier and DGTF Managing Assistant District Attorney Ryan Smith prosecuted the case. DGTF investigators John Wilbanks, David Brucz, Yayoi Huggins, and Doug Loomis, victim witness advocate Sussy Key and interpreter Flori Sanches-Benitez assisted with the case. The Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration were invaluable in closing the case.
Pictured: Jose Sandoval /Photo via the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office.