Wilmington Man Sentenced To 15 Years Imprisonment For Role In International Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

WILMINGTON, Del. – Charles M. Oberly, III, United States Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced today that Kelvin Cook, age 35 of Wilmington, Delaware, was sentenced on June 20, 2013, to a term of imprisonment of fifteen (15) years for his role as a leader of an international drug trafficking conspiracy.

 According to facts introduced in prior hearings, Cook was one of the leaders of an organization that recruited multiple drug couriers to travel to Panama in order to smuggle cocaine and heroin into the United States.  Agents identified a total of at least nineteen (19) couriers who took smuggling trips on behalf of the organization, and who smuggled, or attempted to smuggle, more than thirteen (13) kilograms of cocaine and five kilograms of heroin from Panama to Delaware.  Cook was also responsible for a significant crack cocaine distribution network on the 500 block of West Sixth Street in Wilmington.  In addition, on one occasion Cook obtained more than 100 grams of heroin from a Texas source, who in turn imported heroin directly from the country of Afghanistan.

United States Attorney Charles M. Oberly, III, stated, “The Court’s sentence appropriately punished Mr. Cook for his involvement in a major drug trafficking organization that had a negative impact on Wilmington and the surrounding communities.  It further sends a message that there are significant consequences for engaging in large-scale drug trafficking within the State of Delaware.  I commend our law enforcement partners for their hard work and considerable cooperation over the course of a three-year investigation that dismantled the organization and brought over 20 individuals to justice.”

            The investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, and the Wilmington Police Department.

            This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert F. Kravetz.  For further information, contact Press Information Officer Kimberlynn Reeves at (302) 573-6277, ext. 16287.

For additional information regarding the case, see also: 
http://www.justice.gov/usao-de/pr/man-pleads-guilty-panamanian-drug-trafficking-conspiracy
http://www.justice.gov/archive/usao/de/news/2011/Panama%20Press%20Release.html
http://www.justice.gov/archive/usao/de/news/2012/07-27.html
http://www.justice.gov/archive/usao/de/news/2012/07-25.html
http://www.justice.gov/archive/usao/de/news/2012/Banerjee%20Plea%20Release.html