Jose Luis Mata-Cedillo sentenced to 20 years for cartel cocaine distribution

Jose Luis Mata-Cedillo, 40, has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for his role as a distributor for a large-scale Mexican drug trafficking organization in St. Louis.

Mata-Cedillo pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine, possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime, and illegal reentry after deportation. His activities were uncovered following the interception of a courier in Kansas carrying approximately 59.5 pounds of cocaine.

According to federal prosecutors, Mata-Cedillo was involved in the distribution of at least 81.6 pounds of cocaine and attempted to order 110.2 pounds of methamphetamine from Mexico. Authorities arrested him at a scheduled delivery location while he was in possession of a loaded handgun.