The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania recently announced that Pedro Villot-Ortiz, 26, of Shenandoah, was sentenced to 151 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Karoline Mehalchick for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.

According to the U.S. Attorney Brian D. Miller, on July 25 agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Pennsylvania State Police executed a search warrant at Villot-Ortiz’s residence in Shenandoah.

Investigators seized methamphetamine and cocaine that Villot-Ortiz intended to sell to his drug customers.

He was on probation at the time and had two earlier drug trafficking convictions.

The case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel illegal immigration, eliminate cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect communities from perpetrators of violent crimes.

Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the DOJ’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Allentown Office, state police and the Shenandoah Borough Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tatum R. Wilson.