PITTSBURGH—After deliberating for three hours on May 23, a federal jury of six men and six women found Rafael A. Cabrera, a/k/a Rubio, guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

Rafael Cabrera, 35, of Passaic, New Jersey, was tried before United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

According to Assistant United States Attorney Eric S. Rosen, who prosecuted the case along with Special Assistant United States Attorney Jake Pugh, the evidence presented at trial established that from August 2012 to January 10, 2013, Cabrera, who lives in New Jersey, brought large shipments of heroin to a co-conspirator at highway rest stops in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Upon receipt of the heroin, the co-conspirator brought the heroin back to Pittsburgh, where it was sold to local drug dealers. The proceeds from these drug sales were then funneled back to Cabrera in New Jersey after the heroin was distributed. In total, the government presented evidence that Cabrera delivered more than 1,500 bricks of heroin to his co- conspirator in Carlisle. These heroin bricks, each containing between one and two grams of heroin, have a street value of more than $300,000.

Judge Hornak has not yet set a date for sentencing. As Cabrera has a prior felony drug distribution conviction, the law provides for a total sentence of up to life in prison, a fine of $8,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based on the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Pending sentencing, the court continued Cabrera’s detention.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, as assisted by the City of Pittsburgh Police and the Pennsylvania State Police, conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Rafael Cabrera.