Five men face federal charges in Miami cocaine conspiracy case

FLORIDA — Five men are facing federal charges for allegedly conspiring to distribute over 150 kilograms of cocaine following an investigation by the U.S. Coast Guard and Homeland Security Investigations.

According to court documents, Carlos Manuel Velazquez Gomez, 43, David Martinez, 53, Juan Antonio Rivera Velasquez, 45, Onasis Lisandro Garcia, 49, and Richard John Sydney-Smith, 62, appeared in federal court on October 29 for initial hearings on their respective criminal complaints.

The U.S. Coast Guard reportedly intercepted Mr Sydney-Smith and Mr Garcia on October 27 on a vessel two miles east of Port Everglades, where they were said to be found with over 150 kilograms of cocaine.

The investigation led to further arrests on October 28, with Mr Rivera Velasquez, Mr Velazquez Gomez, and Mr Martinez taken into custody in Fort Lauderdale, where they allegedly awaited delivery.

Pre-trial detention hearings are scheduled for November 1 and 4. Mr Markenzy Lapointe, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, announced the case alongside Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Mr Anthony Salisbury.

The investigation involved HSI Miami, the U.S. Coast Guard, and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) Air and Marine Units.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ms Latoya C. Brown is prosecuting the case. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.