DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

UNITED STATES ATTORNEY GRETCHEN C.F. SHAPPERT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 11, 2009

CONTACT: SUELLEN PIERCE
704.338.3120
FAX 704.227.0264

COCAINE TRAFFICKERS SENTENCED TO DECADES IN FEDERAL PRISON Charlotte Cell of Drug Organization Responsible for Bringing Approximately 100 Kilograms of Cocaine into Charlotte Every Other Week CHARLOTTE, NC - Six individuals have been sentenced in U.S. District Court in Charlotte for their roles in a massive cocaine trafficking and money laundering conspiracy. The sentences were announced by Gretchen C.F. Shappert, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, and Del Richburg, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Charlotte Office.

“This case is an excellent demonstration of interagency cooperation,” said U.S. Attorney Shappert, chief law enforcement officer over all Western N.C. counties. “Law enforcement dismantled the Charlotte cell of an enormous cocaine trafficking organization, taking its drugs, money, and weapons, and putting its leader and couriers behind bars,” she added. According to official court records and proceedings, during the course of the conspiracy, which started at least as early as 2006, the organization delivered thousands of kilograms of cocaine to Charlotte, at a pace of approximately 100 kilograms every other week. The investigation, codenamed “Operation Exorcist” for the license plate on the leader’s sports car, was spearheaded by agents of the Department of Homeland Security, Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Special Agent Joe Barringer of the Charlotte ICE Office, and other law enforcement officials, seized 100 kilograms of cocaine, several firearms, including an assault rifle, vehicles, and approximately $2,910,000 in U.S. currency. The vehicles and currency have been administratively forfeited to the government. The cocaine and firearms are being held by the government pending final disposition of the criminal case.

The leader of the Charlotte “cell” of the organization, Eduardo Saenz, 24, of Charlotte, NC, has been sentenced to 27 years in federal prison for his role in the conspiracy. In March 2008, Saenz’s lieutenant, Alejandro Villareal, 26, of Mission, TX, was convicted at trial before a federal jury. Villareal was sentenced in November 2008 to 30 years in federal prison.

Other members of the conspiracy previously pleaded guilty and were sentenced as follows:
1. Arturo Blanco, 23, of Mission, TX, was sentenced to 11 years for drug trafficking
2. Maria Salazar, 39, of Rio Grande City, TX, was sentenced to 63 months for drug trafficking
3. Fidel Silva, 66, of Pharr, TX, was sentenced to 63 months for money laundering
4. Yomil Prado, 29, of Cuba, was sentenced to 41 months for money laundering
5. Jesus Balderas, 22, of Mission, TX, was sentenced to 37 months for money laundering

Darrell Ray Thomas, 38, of Durham, NC, has pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and is awaiting sentencing. One defendant charged in the bill of indictment, Juan Enrique Arroyo, is a fugitive from justice.

The investigation was led by the Charlotte Office of ICE. Also participating in the investigation and rendering significant support were the McAllen, Texas Office of ICE; FBI Charlotte; Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, Charlotte, NC; Drug Enforcement Administration, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Resident Agency; the NC State Bureau of Investigation; and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. The prosecution was handled for the government by Assistant United States Attorney Steven R. Kaufman.