Press Release
TWO DEFENDANTS CHARGED WITH POSSESSION OF 667 POUNDS OF MARIJUANA
September 11, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jeffery H. Sloman, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Anthony V. Mangione, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Office of Investigations, Rear Admiral Steve Branham, Commander, U.S. Coast Guard, 7th District, announced that Walter Pereira-Flores, 28, and Ricardo Graham, 24, were charged in a criminal complaint with possession with the intent to distribute 667 pounds of marijuana, in violation of Title 46, United States Code, Section 70503. Pereira-Flores and Graham made their initial appearances in federal court yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Chris M. McAliley, and were detained pending a pre-trial detention hearing, set for Tuesday, September 15, 2009, at 10:00 a.m.
According to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, on September 9, 2009, the United State Coast Guard seized a 30 foot Sea Ray vessel, approximately 21 nautical miles southwest of Bimini, Bahamas. The United States Coast Guard cutter initially spotted the vessel drifting without navigational lights. As the cutter approached, the Coast Guardsmen observed Pereira-Flores throwing packages into the water. The packages were retrieved and found to contain 667 pounds of marijuana. Agents from ICE were contacted, and Pereira-Flores and Graham were then arrested.
If convicted, each defendant faces a minimum sentence of five years imprisonment and maximum sentence of 40 years imprisonment, and a fine of up to $2,000,000.
Mr. Sloman commended the investigative efforts of ICE’s Office of Investigations and the U.S. Coast Guard. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cynthia Wood.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
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