HARRISBURG, Pa. — A Dauphin County man was sentenced to nine years in prison for his role in a multimillion-dollar marijuana distribution ring operating out of a Harrisburg auto dealership, authorities said Friday.
Jose Laboy, 40, of Susquehanna Township, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson at a recent hearing, according to U.S. Attorney Gerard M. Karam.
Laboy had previously pleaded guilty to being part of a group that received marijuana shipped from California and admitted to possessing a firearm used in furtherance of drug trafficking, Karam said.
The drug ring operated out of Fastlane Auto Sales in the city, according to Karam. The group would receive packages of marijuana from California and mailed cash back, using a sophisticated system of GPS devices placed in the parcels to track the location of the drugs and money.
The Fastlane group eventually learned a U.S. Postal worker was stealing their marijuana as it was shipped through U.S. Mail, Karam said. In an attempt to stop the suspected thief, members of the conspiracy shot at a car in Harrisburg, a home in Susquehanna Township, and at another home in Steelton, according to Karam.
They also robbed and assaulted the postal worker at gunpoint, Karam added.
Laboy was responsible for trafficking between 100 and 400 kilograms of marijuana between 2017 and 2020, Karam said. He was not found to be responsible for any of the violence associated with the group.
Other members of the conspiracy include:
Christopher Texidor, 36, of Harrisburg: Convicted of drug trafficking and weapons offenses in March. Awaiting sentencing.
William Kuduk, 37, of Harrisburg: Pleaded guilty to marijuana and cocaine trafficking with the Fastlane group. Awaiting sentencing.
Justin Laboy, 36, of Harrisburg: Pleaded guilty to drug trafficking conspiracy and weapons conspiracy. Awaiting sentencing.
Julio Arellano, 33, of Harrisburg: Pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and weapons violations and conspiracy. Awaiting sentencing.
Jonathan Cobaugh, 25, of Harrisburg: Pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and wire fraud related to COVID-19 compensation. Sentenced to 63 months in prison last month.
Jamie Valenzuela, 32, of Santa Ana, California: Pleaded guilty to being the source of the marijuana shipped from California. Sentenced to 57 months in prison in February.
