A Statesville, North Carolina, man has been sentenced to 156 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced on Wednesday, October 21. Luis Ruiz-Mejia, 48, was sentenced on Monday, October 19, by U.S. District Judge Robert E. Wier in London, Kentucky.

Source: U.S. Department of Justice — U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Kentucky

According to his plea agreement, from about September 30, 2024, to about April 2, 2025, Ruiz-Mejia conspired with others to distribute cocaine in Harlan County, Kentucky, and elsewhere. Federal officials said he served as the North Carolina-based source of supply for co-defendant Rey Velasco-Solis, who travelled to Ruiz-Mejia's home on several occasions to collect cocaine and then distributed it in the Harlan County area.

Source: U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

Undercover purchases and a recorded kilogram deal

In total, the DEA purchased approximately 434 grams of cocaine from Velasco-Solis, all of which was supplied by Ruiz-Mejia, officials said. Recorded phone calls between the two men also captured an agreement for Velasco-Solis to purchase an additional kilogram of cocaine. A search of Ruiz-Mejia's home found several guns and additional quantities of cocaine, according to the announcement.

On March 12, 2025, Velasco-Solis was observed leaving the side door of the Sazon Restaurant in Harlan County and providing a cooperating witness with cocaine in exchange for cash, officials said.

156 monthsfederal sentence — 13 years
500 g+cocaine in the conspiracy charge
434 gbought by DEA in undercover purchases

Co-defendants already sentenced

Velasco-Solis was sentenced earlier this year to 60 months in federal prison, and another co-defendant, Guillermo Pelaez-Santiago, received 8 months, officials said. Federal officials said all three men were in the United States unlawfully, and that Pelaez-Santiago has already been removed from the country. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Jason Parman and DEA official Jim Scott.