PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Jose Torres-Vega, aka “Pete” and “Big Hommie” of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Timothy J. Savage to 216 months’ imprisonment followed by 8 years of supervised release for drug trafficking and firearms offenses.The defendant was charged in a 20-count superseding indictment in June of 2023 with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, distribution of controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and maintaining a drug house.As detailed in case filings and statements, Torres-Vega was the leader and organizer of a drug trafficking group which operated in the Kensington section of Philadelphia. Torres-Vega obtained distribution quantities of fentanyl, heroin, and crack cocaine from suppliers in and around the Philadelphia area, and coordinated street sales of narcotics via his subordinates. Torres-Vega utilized a stash property, where he stored bulk narcotics and multiple firearms.
A search warrant executed at the stash property revealed a cache of loaded firearms, to include an assault rifle, as well as bulk fentanyl.The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Pennsylvania State Police and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Erica Kivitz and Lindsey Mills.