​Drug Dealer Sentenced For Drug And Money Laundering

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — A 34-year-old man is due to spend 72 months in federal prison on drug and money laundering charges, prosecutors said.

Jonathan Ponce was sentenced Thursday for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and heroin, international money laundering, and money laundering conspiracy, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California.

Ponce, a U.S. citizen who previously lived in Mexico and in the South Bay, was indicted on the drug charges in 2019 and in 2021 on the money laundering charges, prosecutors said.

Ponce pleaded guilty in 2024 to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin and methamphetamine, five counts of international money laundering, and one count of money laundering conspiracy.

Prosecutors said Ponce sold or arranged for others to sell on his behalf about 14 pounds of methamphetamine and 1.6 pounds of heroin over the course of 13 drug deals. He also laundered over $30,000 in funds obtained from illegal activity by sending the proceeds to Mexico via money services businesses using false information.

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