RALEIGH — An undercover drug deal that was carried out in St. Pauls has led to the conviction of an illegal immigrant.

On Tuesday in federal court, a jury found Ruben Juarez Gonzalez, 43, guilty of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, according to United States Attorney George E.B. Holding.

Gonzalez was also found guilty of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, illegal entry into the United States, and falsely claiming to be a citizen of the United States.

The evidence showed that on Feb. 13, Gonzalez, along with Rodolfo “Rudy” Orduna Betanzo, 35, and Marco “Maurice” Alba Jancinto, 29, traveled to a residence in St. Pauls to deliver a kilogram of cocaine in exchange for $32,000 to an individual cooperating with federal law enforcement and an undercover officer.

According to the evidence, Gonzalez had driven Betanzo to St. Pauls from Georgia.

Numerous recorded telephone calls between the cooperating defendant and Betanzo, and the cooperating defendant and Jancinto arranging the drug transaction were entered into evidence.

The evidence indicated that after Gonzalez, Betanzo, and Jancinto showed the kilogram of cocaine to the cooperating witness and the undercover officer, the witness and the officer left the residence and made recorded telephone calls to Betanzo and Jancinto informing them that they could not come up with the $32,000.

Delgado, Betanzo, and Jancinto then left the residence and law enforcement initiated a traffic stop of the vehicle being driven by Delgado, in which Betanzo was a passenger, and the vehicle being driven by Jancinto. The kilogram of cocaine was found in a hidden compartment in Jancinto’s vehicle. Five cellular telephones were seized from the vehicle being driven by Gonzalez.

Gonzalez identified himself as Daniel Fernando Delgado, a resident of Georgia, and citizen of the United States. He was found in possession of a Georgia driver’s license, a Social Security card identifying himself as Delgado and $4,867 in cash.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement determined that the man claiming to be Daniel Fernando Delgado was Ruben Juarez Gonzalez, a citizen of Mexico.

Betanzo and Jancinto pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle on Aug. 17 to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.

Delgado, Betanzo, and Jancinto each face up to 40 years imprisonment, a $2 million fine, and at least four years supervised release. All three men also face deportation.

“The men and women of law enforcement and the prosecutorial team worked hard to bring to justice this case,” Holding said. “It is gratifying to see the jury supported this hard work and diligence with their verdict.”

Investigation of the case was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with substantial cooperation by Robeson County Sheriff’s Office, Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, Fayetteville Police Department, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Royster prosecuted the case.