Seven Middle District Men Indicted

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Six Chatham County men and an Alamance County man were indicted by a federal grand jury for drug trafficking, announced Ripley Rand, Unites States Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina. The seven people are currently in custody.

The indictment alleges that beginning in or about 2009 and continuing up to September 2014, the defendants did conspire to unlawfully distribute cocaine hydrochloride and methamphetamine. The investigation culminated on October 10, 2014 when the defendants were arrested. Six kilograms of cocaine hydrochloride and over $100.000.00 in cash were also seized at that time. The government has also begun asset forfeitures proceedings on more than ten acres of property located in Siler City.

Indicted were:

Abel Espinoza Garcia, 25, Siler City NC

Valentin Gorostieta Hernandez, 30, Siler City NC

Mauro Gorostieta Hernandez 22, Siler City NC

Kevin Ocampo, 19, Siler City NC

Antonio Ocampo, 42, Siler City NC

Constantino Alavarez Santanna, 37, Siler City NC

Craig Leevon McMasters, 42, Mebane NC

Chief Gary Tyson of the Siler City Police Department remarked, “I am very proud of my officers that work on this case. We had great collaboration between the different agencies involved. Our Town and surrounding areas are safer because of this effort. I hope the partnerships that were forged while working this case will lead to future operations that we can work together in a collaborative manner.”

Sheriff Richard Webster of Chatham County added: “The use of illegal drugs has always been an issue for law enforcement nationwide. By working together at local, state and federal levels, greater things can be accomplished to make Chatham County a safer community to live. This was certainly proven with this collaboration effort.”

The case was investigated by the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, Siler City Police Department, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations Division.

The charges contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.