Daniel Don Juan, 35, of Georgia, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. He faces a minimum sentence of 15 years and up to life in federal prison, with a sentencing date yet to be scheduled. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe said the announcement.
Court records reveal that on April 12, 2025, a co-conspirator of Don Juan was stopped for a traffic violation by the Turner County Georgia Sheriff’s Office. A K9 unit alerted to drugs, leading to the discovery of approximately seven kilograms of fentanyl in the vehicle. Agents determined the drugs were being transported from Lawrenceville, Georgia, to Jacksonville, Florida.
Don Juan, already serving a federal prison term for a prior drug conviction, used a contraband cellphone to instruct his co-conspirator. He directed the co-conspirator to pick up "7 pieces" (seven kilograms of fentanyl) in Lawrenceville and deliver them to a specific meeting location in Jacksonville, providing detailed route instructions. Agents learned the co-conspirator had made several previous drug delivery trips for Don Juan, including within the Middle District of Florida.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Florida Highway Patrol, the Turner County Sheriff’s Office, and the Georgia State Police. Assistant United States Attorneys John Cannizarro and Elisibeth Adams are prosecuting the case, which is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative targeting illegal immigration, cartels, and violent crime.