Jonathan Ponce has been sentenced to 72 months in federal prison for his involvement in a drug distribution and money laundering conspiracy. The sentence was issued by Senior U.S. District Judge Edward M. Chen.
Ponce, a 34-year-old U.S. citizen with previous residences in Mexico and the South Bay, faced initial charges on August 21, 2019, followed by an indictment on August 29, 2019, related to drug offenses. He was later indicted by a federal grand jury on June 24, 2021, for money laundering activities.
On November 14, 2024, Ponce admitted guilt to charges including conspiracy to distribute heroin and methamphetamine, five counts of international money laundering, and one count of money laundering conspiracy. Court records reveal that he facilitated the sale of approximately 14 pounds of methamphetamine and 1.6 pounds of heroin through multiple transactions. Additionally, he laundered over $30,000 from illegal activities by transferring funds to Mexico using false information via money services businesses.
Following his arrest, Ponce remained in custody and will continue so after sentencing. Besides imprisonment, Judge Chen mandated a five-year supervised release period following the completion of his prison term.
The announcement came from United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Bob P. Beris.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation aimed at targeting top-level drug traffickers and criminal organizations through a collaborative approach involving various law enforcement agencies.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Yeh led the prosecution resulting from the DEA’s investigation into Ponce’s activities.
