United States of America v. Juan Francisco Castaneda

Birmingham, Alabama, criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and money laundering.

Juan Francisco Castaneda, also known as “Pariente,” 44, guilty pleaded guilty. Castaneda ran his drug trafficking and money laundering organization with the use of contraband phones while he was serving multiple life sentences for murder at the Alabama Department of Corrections’ Bullock Correctional facility. Castaneda used a network of couriers and local businesses as “fronts,” from which he arranged fentanyl distribution and collected drug proceeds. Undercover operations revealed that Castaneda was laundering hundreds of thousands of dollars to CJNG sources in Mexico through these couriers and businesses.

According to Court documents, Castaneda previously pleaded guilty to a 2008 multi-victim homicide in Shelby County, in which five individuals were murdered over a cartel debt. Evidence at sentencing revealed that Castaneda also threatened to kill co-defendants during the course of the investigation and “feed them to the dogs,” and that he was responsible for the movement of over 19 kilograms of fentanyl throughout the District during the time period of the investigation. As part of sentencing, Castaneda also had a $700,000 money judgment entered against him.

The DEA and HSI investigated the case, along with assistance from the Internal Revenue Service, United States Marshals Service, United States Postal Inspection Service, Hoover Police Department, Birmingham Police Department, Bessemer Police Department, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Alabama Department of Corrections, and Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Allison Garnett and Carson Gilbert are prosecuting the case.

CBP LIFE as to counts 1,3,4 & 5, separately but concurrently, and 240 mos as to count 2, to be served concurrently with all other counts; SRT 120 mos as to count 1, 36 mos as to count 2, 96 mos as to counts 3,4 & 5, all to be served concurrently, w/ spec conds; no fine; forfeiture ordered; asmt fee $500.00; dft remanded to USM custody.