Sebring man pleads guilty to cocaine trafficking conspiracy

MIAMI, Florida — Hubert Ramon Santiesteban, 55, of Sebring, Florida, has pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and attempt to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance.

According to court records, Santiesteban negotiated the purchase of 30 kilograms of cocaine. In April 2023, Highlands County Sheriff’s Office detectives observed Santiesteban and a co-conspirator preparing for the transaction at Santiesteban’s residence. During a FaceTime call, Santiesteban and his co-conspirator showed undercover law enforcement large amounts of U.S. currency intended for the cocaine purchase. A search of Santiesteban’s property revealed $418,000 hidden in a van.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 12 before U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon. Santiesteban faces up to life in federal prison and a lifetime of supervised release. The sentence will be determined after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The announcement was made by Markenzy Lapointe, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; Deanne L. Reuter of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Miami Field Division; and Paul Blackman, Highlands County Sheriff.

The DEA Miami Field Division and Highlands County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Hudock is prosecuting it.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case no. 24-cr-14034.