Jesus Anibal Gutierrez, a 27-year-old from College Park, Georgia, has been sentenced to 12.5 years in federal prison for distributing crystal methamphetamine in Goldsboro, North Carolina. Gutierrez entered a guilty plea on November 12, 2024.
The investigation commenced in July 2023 when law enforcement discovered that a Mexico-based drug trafficker had arranged to send large quantities of narcotics to the Eastern District of North Carolina. Authorities learned that a courier linked to the Mexican trafficker was set to arrive in Goldsboro with a significant methamphetamine shipment on October 21, 2023.
Law enforcement officials, aided by a confidential informant, located the courier’s vehicle and executed a traffic stop. A K-9 unit detected narcotics inside the car, leading to the seizure of approximately 20.74 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine and three cellular phones. Gutierrez was found as a passenger and admitted his role in coordinating the narcotics shipment and traveling to deliver them. The driver, Rosendo Salazar, pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on March 10, 2025.
Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, announced the sentencing following proceedings by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Goldsboro Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer C. Nucci.
Further details can be accessed through related court documents available on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or via PACER using case number 5:24-CR-00149.
