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A Cuban resident of Hialeah pleaded guilty in federal court to possession —with intent to distribute— of more than 100 kilograms of marijuana and to a charge of possession of five firearms related to drug trafficking in Jacksonville, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida announced this Tuesday.
José Rubén Curet Villa, 41 years old, admitted his guilt two years after being found in possession of approximately 137 kilograms (303.5 pounds) of "a mixture and substance that contained a detectable amount of marijuana" along with weapons to facilitate the crime of drug trafficking.
According to the announcement made by federal prosecutor Gregory W. Kehoe, Curet Villa is facing a minimum sentence of 40 years in prison up to life imprisonment. The date for his sentencing hearing has yet to be scheduled.
The investigation began in 2024, when federal authorities discovered that Curet Villa and several accomplices were operating temporary marijuana shops at various locations in Jacksonville, a tactic known as "pop-up shops," designed to evade law enforcement.
The statement from the Prosecutor's Office specified that, in April of that year, Curet Villa reached an illegal agreement with his accomplices to establish temporary stores where they sold and distributed large quantities of marijuana in five locations in Jacksonville, and conspired with others, including those providing the premises and security for these fleeting businesses.
On two occasions, the official report noted, a confidential informant made controlled purchases of marijuana from the accused and his accomplices in those stores, allowing investigators to build the case against him.
On November 15, 2024, law enforcement executed search warrants at several locations associated with Curet Villa, including the house where he was staying and present at the time of the search.
In those places, agents seized more than 135 kilograms of marijuana, five firearms —one of which was reported stolen— 113 rounds of ammunition, a bill counting machine, vacuum sealers, plastic bags and marijuana residue, scales, and cash, the official statement detailed.
In the initial report following the operation, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office also disclosed the seizure of 37.25 pounds of cannabis wax, 12.4 pounds of THC oil (cannabis concentrate), 3.3 pounds of marijuana edibles, 7.2 grams of MDMA (a drug known as Ecstasy, Molly, or crystal), as well as $11,530 in cash and 13 firearms in total.
According to local news reports, Curet Villa was initially arrested at the state level and released after posting a $60,000 bond, but federal charges significantly aggravated his legal situation. The original state charges included trafficking marijuana over 25 pounds, possession of drug manufacturing or distribution paraphernalia, and possession of hallucinogens with the intent to sell or distribute.
Now, under federal jurisdiction, Curet Villa faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 40 years in prison that could escalate to life imprisonment, due to the combination of large-scale trafficking with the use of firearms in the crime.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, and is part of the "Take Back America" Operation, a national initiative by the Department of Justice against organized drug trafficking and transnational criminal cartels and organizations, which also aims to protect communities from perpetrators of violent crimes.
Florida has not legalized recreational marijuana at the state level, which makes such operations a top priority for federal and local authorities.
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