Hialeah Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing 100 Kilograms of Marijuana and Five Firearms for Drug Trafficking

Jacksonville, Florida - Jose Ruben Curet Villa (41, Hialeah) has pleaded guilty to possessing with the intent to distribute 100 kilograms or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of marijuana and one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Curet Villa faces a minimum penalty of 40 years, up to life, in federal prison. The date for his sentencing hearing has not yet been set. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to the plea agreement, in April 2024, Curet Villa made an illegal arrangement with his co-conspirators to set up "pop-up shops," where he sold and distributed large volumes of marijuana at five locations in Jacksonville. He conspired with others, including those who provided locations and security for these temporary businesses. On two occasions, a confidential informant made controlled purchases of marijuana from Curet Villa and his co-conspirators at these pop-up shops. Based on their investigation, law enforcement believed that Curet Villa was transporting marijuana from the townhome where he was staying to the pop-up shops.

On November 15, 2024, law enforcement executed search warrants at various locations associated with Curet Villa, including the townhome where Curet Villa had been staying and was present. Items recovered included: a money counter, vacuum sealers, plastic bags and marijuana residue, scales, cash, five firearms (one of which was stolen), 113 rounds of ammunition, and more than 298 pounds of marijuana.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Jacksonville Sherriff's Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Lasry. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Andrejko.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).