Orlando men sentenced for importing heroin

ORLANDO, Fla. — Two Orlando men were sentenced Friday for conspiracy to import heroin, following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Orange County Sheriff's Office, and the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation.

Hector Almedina, 25, was sentenced to eight years and one month in federal prison for conspiracy to import heroin, importation of heroin, conspiracy to possess heroin with intent to distribute, and possession of heroin with intent to distribute.

Victor Manuel Salgado, 27, was sentenced to seven years and three months in federal prison for conspiracy to import heroin. The court also ordered Salgado to forfeit his 2005 Hummer H2, which was used during the conspiracy.

Almedina was convicted by a federal jury on May 4. Salgado pleaded guilty on April 26.

According to the evidence presented at Almedina's trial and in Salgado's plea agreement, on Feb. 24, CBP intercepted a package from Colombia that contained 486 grams of heroin. The package was addressed to Almedina at his residence in Orlando.

On Feb. 25, an undercover officer delivered the package to Almedina at his residence. Minutes later, Almedina left his residence with the package to deliver it to Salgado for further distribution to other members of the conspiracy.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg.