Woodbridge Gang Member Sentenced for Gun and Drug Crimes
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Woodbridge man was sentenced today to 11 1/2 years in prison for cocaine trafficking and firearms offenses.
“Lozada’s conduct proves the adage that where guns and drugs intersect, violence is the result,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “We will continue to investigate and prosecute these cases to ensure criminals like Lozada are held accountable.”
According to court documents, Jorge Lozada, 23, is a known associate of the United Blood Nation/Imperial Gangsta Blood gang. From early 2017 through September 2017, Lozada distributed marijuana and cocaine, often advertising the drugs he had for sale through social media. Lozada used and carried firearms in connection with his drug distribution business, again posting video and photos of himself and his associates carrying firearms to social media. Ultimately, Lozada was arrested in an apartment in Woodbridge in possession of cocaine, a scale, packaging material, cash, cell phones, a Glock 9mm pistol with an extended magazine, and ammunition.
“ATF’s primary mission is to protect America’s neighborhoods from violent crime,” said Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division. “Consequently, when ATF identifies those gang members who perpetrate violence by trafficking drugs and carrying firearms, make no mistake, we will use all of our resources as demonstrated in this case to bring them to justice and get them off our streets.”
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Liam O’Grady. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael P. Ben’Ary prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:18-cr-372.
