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Department of Justice United States Attorney Candace G. Hill Contact: Dawn Masden |
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October 8, 2009
TAYLOR COUNTY THREE PLED TO COCAINE CONSPIRACY
– Three members of five-member cocaine distribution ring pled
BOWLING GREEN, KY - On October 6, 2009, before District Judge Thomas B. Russell, Eladio Pedroza, Jr., a/k/a Junior, age 30, of Campbellsville, Kentucky, Robert H. Lamer, Jr., age 37, of Campbellsville, Kentucky, and Jeffery Lynn Bivens, age 25, of Cecilia, Kentucky, entered guilty pleas for their roles in a conspiracy to possess and distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine, United States Attorney Candace G. Hill of the Western District of Kentucky announced today.
Pursuant to their plea agreements, each defendant admitted to the following: between January 10, 2009 and January 13, 2009, in the Western District of Kentucky, Taylor County, the defendants engaged in a conspiracy to possess and distribute two kilograms of cocaine.
On January 10, 2009 a CI, working on behalf of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, was contacted by Bivens to purchase a kilogram of cocaine from himself and four Hispanics. The CI went to Bivens' residence, located in Elizabethtown, and met Bivens and the co-defendant Pedroza, a/k/a Junior. Bivens gave the CI approximately 1g of cocaine as sample to show the quality of the kilo. The CI preserved the sample and turned it over to HIDTA Task officers. A price of $29,000 for the kilo was agreed upon by Bivens and the CI. Following the meeting at the residence, the CI placed recorded phone calls to Bivens and the co-defendant Lamer to arrange the pick up of the kilo of cocaine. On January 13, 2009, a meeting time and place was arranged. HIDTA Task Force officers, having the co-defendant Lamer under surveillance, watched as he met with the co-defendant Pedroza at a Vista Motel. Lamer was stopped by HIDTA Task Force officers on his way to the arranged meeting with the CI. During the stop, Lamer produced one kilo of cocaine and was arrested. Subsequently, the co-defendant Pedroza was stopped by HIDTA Task Force officers a kilo of cocaine was recovered from Pedroza's vehicle. In the vehicle, along with Pedroza, were the co-defendants Dejesus Cortez Contreras, age 41, a Mexican National and Cruz Serrano Garcia, a/k/a Big Boy, age 60, a Mexican National. All of the recovered cocaine was tested and lab reports establish the total amount of cocaine to be 1,700g.
The maximum potential penalties faced by Pedroza, Lamer and Bivens are no more than 80 years’ imprisonment, a $4,000,000 fine, and supervised release for a period up to life; and the minimum potential penalties are 5 years’ imprisonment, supervised release for a period of 4 years. Parole has been abolished in the federal system.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mac Shannon, and it was investigated by the Bowling Green Warren County Drug Task Force and by the Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Pedroza, Lamer and Bivens are scheduled to be sentenced before Judge Thomas B. Russell on January 5, 2010, at 11:30 a.m., in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The co-defendants Contreras and Garcia are scheduled to enter a Change of plea before Judge Russell on November 4, 2009 at 11:45 a.m., in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
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