News Release
May 14, 2004

Defendant Pleads Guilty in Largest Cocaine Seizure in Kentucky History

(L to R) U.S Attorney Gregory Van Tatenhove, Eastern District of Kentucky, Kentucky Lt. Governor Stephen Pence, DEA ASAC Gary W. Oetjen, and Kentucky State Police Commissioner Mark Miller address the media.

Lexington, KY- On May 14, 2004, Gregory F. Van Tatenhove, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Lt. Gov. and Justice Cabinet Secretary Stephen B. Pence, Kentucky State Police Commissioner Mark L. Miller, and Gary Oetjen, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration announced that one of two individuals who were arrested for possession and transportation of more than 800 pounds of cocaine and were indicted by a Federal grand jury on May 6, 2004, has entered a plea of guilty before the Court.

Jaime Delacruz Bustamante entered a plea of guilty to Count 1 of the Federal Indictment. Mr. Bustamante is subject to a sentence of ten years or more, not more than a $4,000,000 fine, and not less than five years of supervised release.

“This is the largest cocaine seizure in the state’s history,” said Pence. “With a value of approximately $35 million, this seizure prevented hundreds of thousands of units of illegal drugs from reaching the streets of America.”

“In this investigation, the citizens of Kentucky get to view first hand the success that can be derived from strong law enforcement partnerships,” commented Drug Enforcement Administration ASAC Oetjen. ‘The Kentucky State Police, United States Attorney’s Office, and the DEA are all to be commended for their ability to work together and share resources on this case.”