ORLANDO, Fla. – An Ecuadorian national residing illegally in Orlando has been sentenced Thursday to 15 years in federal prison for distributing fentanyl and possessing a firearm while drug trafficking.
U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron handed down the sentence to Alberto Ismael Salinas Valencia, 21, who had pled guilty to the charges on January 23, 2025.
According to the plea agreement, Salinas Valencia operated an online business from August 2023 to August 2024, through which he sold firearms, fentanyl, and cocaine in the Orlando area. The operation came to light when an undercover law enforcement officer discovered Salinas Valencia’s illicit online store.
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Over the course of the investigation, Salinas Valencia conducted several undercover transactions with the officer. During these dealings, he sold multiple firearms, which notably included two machineguns. In addition to the weaponry, Salinas Valencia also sold fentanyl pills and cocaine to the undercover officer.
The successful investigation and subsequent prosecution were the result of a collaborative effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Richard Varadan prosecuted the case.
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