Topline: A Florida woman and a California man were sentenced to a combined 46-plus years in federal prison for murdering a Miami man over a meth package that law enforcement had already seized before the killing.
Published: April 16, 2026 9:00 am ET
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MIAMI, FL — Tsvia Kol, 37, of Hallandale, Florida, and Jimmy Sanchez, 38, of Spring Valley, California, were sentenced to a combined 560 months in federal prison for the 2022 murder of a Miami man they wrongly believed had stolen an 11-pound package of methamphetamine.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced the sentences: Kol received 230 months — approximately 19 years and 2 months — and Sanchez received 330 months, or approximately 27 years and 6 months.
According to court documents, Kol and Sanchez were operating a drug trafficking network when a package containing approximately 11 pounds of methamphetamine — valued at roughly $90,000 on the street — went missing. They believed the victim had stolen it. In fact, law enforcement had already seized the package before Kol and Sanchez came looking for it.
The two rented a hotel room and confronted the victim there. Kol supplied Sanchez with a firearm. As the encounter turned violent, the victim called 911 and attempted to relay his location to a dispatcher. The recorded emergency call captured the sounds of a physical altercation followed by gunshots.
Hotel security footage showed Kol and Sanchez fleeing the property after the shooting. The victim’s body was not discovered in the hotel room until the following day.
Both defendants pleaded guilty in January 2026 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and using a firearm to cause death during a drug trafficking offense. Sanchez admitted to shooting and killing the victim; Kol admitted to acting as an accomplice and providing the weapon.
“This started as a drug deal gone wrong and ended in an execution,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “The defendants armed themselves, set up the victim, and carried out a killing over a missing drug package that had already been seized by law enforcement. The prison sentences — over 19 years and over 27 years — reflect the seriousness of that violence.”
“Suspecting that the victim had stolen drugs from them, these defendants committed a callous murder,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The drug business is a dangerous game that results in death, ruined lives, and torn families. The Criminal Division prioritizes prosecuting drug crimes, especially those involving violence.”
“These defendants ruthlessly murdered someone whom they thought had stolen from their own illegal drug trafficking network,” said FBI Assistant Director Heith Janke of the Criminal Division. “The FBI, with our federal, state and local partners, works around the clock to ensure criminals with no regard for human life are found and held accountable.”
“Drug trafficking and violence unfortunately go hand-in-hand,” said Special Agent in Charge Miles Aley of the DEA Miami Field Division. “DEA Miami agents are working tirelessly to bring justice and safety to our community.”
The investigation involved the Drug Enforcement Administration, the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, the Hialeah Police Department, and the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Trial Attorney Jessica A. Massey of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Monique Botero for the Southern District of Florida.
The prosecution is part of the DOJ Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative, a partnership targeting gang-related violence in Miami through coordinated federal law enforcement resources.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Duo Sentenced to Over 46 Years for Killing Miami Man Over Drug Package Already Seized by Police
A Florida woman and a California man were sentenced to a combined 46-plus years in federal prison for murdering a Miami man over a meth package that law enforcement had already seized before the killing.
By Aaron Stephensen
Published: April 16, 2026 9:00 am ET
MIAMI, FL — Tsvia Kol, 37, of Hallandale, Florida, and Jimmy Sanchez, 38, of Spring Valley, California, were sentenced to a combined 560 months in federal prison for the 2022 murder of a Miami man they wrongly believed had stolen an 11-pound package of methamphetamine.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced the sentences: Kol received 230 months — approximately 19 years and 2 months — and Sanchez received 330 months, or approximately 27 years and 6 months.
According to court documents, Kol and Sanchez were operating a drug trafficking network when a package containing approximately 11 pounds of methamphetamine — valued at roughly $90,000 on the street — went missing. They believed the victim had stolen it. In fact, law enforcement had already seized the package before Kol and Sanchez came looking for it.
The two rented a hotel room and confronted the victim there. Kol supplied Sanchez with a firearm. As the encounter turned violent, the victim called 911 and attempted to relay his location to a dispatcher. The recorded emergency call captured the sounds of a physical altercation followed by gunshots.
Hotel security footage showed Kol and Sanchez fleeing the property after the shooting. The victim’s body was not discovered in the hotel room until the following day.
Both defendants pleaded guilty in January 2026 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and using a firearm to cause death during a drug trafficking offense. Sanchez admitted to shooting and killing the victim; Kol admitted to acting as an accomplice and providing the weapon.
“This started as a drug deal gone wrong and ended in an execution,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “The defendants armed themselves, set up the victim, and carried out a killing over a missing drug package that had already been seized by law enforcement. The prison sentences — over 19 years and over 27 years — reflect the seriousness of that violence.”
“Suspecting that the victim had stolen drugs from them, these defendants committed a callous murder,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The drug business is a dangerous game that results in death, ruined lives, and torn families. The Criminal Division prioritizes prosecuting drug crimes, especially those involving violence.”
“These defendants ruthlessly murdered someone whom they thought had stolen from their own illegal drug trafficking network,” said FBI Assistant Director Heith Janke of the Criminal Division. “The FBI, with our federal, state and local partners, works around the clock to ensure criminals with no regard for human life are found and held accountable.”
“Drug trafficking and violence unfortunately go hand-in-hand,” said Special Agent in Charge Miles Aley of the DEA Miami Field Division. “DEA Miami agents are working tirelessly to bring justice and safety to our community.”
The investigation involved the Drug Enforcement Administration, the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, the Hialeah Police Department, and the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Trial Attorney Jessica A. Massey of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Monique Botero for the Southern District of Florida.
The prosecution is part of the DOJ Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative, a partnership targeting gang-related violence in Miami through coordinated federal law enforcement resources.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Duo Sentenced to Over 46 Years for Killing Miami Man Over Drug Package Already Seized by Police
A Florida woman and a California man were sentenced to a combined 46-plus years in federal prison for murdering a Miami man over a meth package that law enforcement had already seized before the killing.
By Aaron Stephensen
Published: April 16, 2026 9:00 am ET
MIAMI, FL — Tsvia Kol, 37, of Hallandale, Florida, and Jimmy Sanchez, 38, of Spring Valley, California, were sentenced to a combined 560 months in federal prison for the 2022 murder of a Miami man they wrongly believed had stolen an 11-pound package of methamphetamine.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced the sentences: Kol received 230 months — approximately 19 years and 2 months — and Sanchez received 330 months, or approximately 27 years and 6 months.
According to court documents, Kol and Sanchez were operating a drug trafficking network when a package containing approximately 11 pounds of methamphetamine — valued at roughly $90,000 on the street — went missing. They believed the victim had stolen it. In fact, law enforcement had already seized the package before Kol and Sanchez came looking for it.
The two rented a hotel room and confronted the victim there. Kol supplied Sanchez with a firearm. As the encounter turned violent, the victim called 911 and attempted to relay his location to a dispatcher. The recorded emergency call captured the sounds of a physical altercation followed by gunshots.
Hotel security footage showed Kol and Sanchez fleeing the property after the shooting. The victim’s body was not discovered in the hotel room until the following day.
Both defendants pleaded guilty in January 2026 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and using a firearm to cause death during a drug trafficking offense. Sanchez admitted to shooting and killing the victim; Kol admitted to acting as an accomplice and providing the weapon.
“This started as a drug deal gone wrong and ended in an execution,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “The defendants armed themselves, set up the victim, and carried out a killing over a missing drug package that had already been seized by law enforcement. The prison sentences — over 19 years and over 27 years — reflect the seriousness of that violence.”
“Suspecting that the victim had stolen drugs from them, these defendants committed a callous murder,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The drug business is a dangerous game that results in death, ruined lives, and torn families. The Criminal Division prioritizes prosecuting drug crimes, especially those involving violence.”
“These defendants ruthlessly murdered someone whom they thought had stolen from their own illegal drug trafficking network,” said FBI Assistant Director Heith Janke of the Criminal Division. “The FBI, with our federal, state and local partners, works around the clock to ensure criminals with no regard for human life are found and held accountable.”
“Drug trafficking and violence unfortunately go hand-in-hand,” said Special Agent in Charge Miles Aley of the DEA Miami Field Division. “DEA Miami agents are working tirelessly to bring justice and safety to our community.”
The investigation involved the Drug Enforcement Administration, the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, the Hialeah Police Department, and the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Trial Attorney Jessica A. Massey of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Monique Botero for the Southern District of Florida.
The prosecution is part of the DOJ Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative, a partnership targeting gang-related violence in Miami through coordinated federal law enforcement resources.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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