DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Acting United States Attorney Edward R. Ryan
Western District of North Carolina

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 2009

CONTACT: Suellen Pierce
704.338.3120
Fax: 704.227.0264

ORGANIZED CRIME DRUG ENFORCEMENT TASK FORCE OPERATION RESULTS IN NUMEROUS FEDERAL PRISON SENTENCES Cocaine and “Crack” Trafficking Conspiracy Defendants Receive Lengthy Prison Sentences CHARLOTTE, NC—Brothers Gregory and Christopher Kennerly, ages 30 and 32, both of Mooresville, NC, were sentenced this week in federal court for their roles in a cocaine and “crack” cocaine trafficking conspiracy which was carried on from 2004 - 2007 in Iredell and Mecklenburg Counties. Gregory and Christopher Kennerly were each sentenced to ten (10) years in federal prison. These sentencing hearings relate to another successful investigation and prosecution by an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force: “Operation Murky Waters.” Six co-conspirators were sentenced at earlier times in U.S. District Court (see list).

Joining Acting U.S. Attorney Edward R. Ryan in making today’s announcement are Delbert Richburg, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Immigration and Customs Enforcement; Chief Rodney Monroe of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, Chief Carl W. Robbins of the Mooresville Police Department, and Chief Thomas A. Anderson of the Statesville Police Department. “Working together, representatives of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies present the most effective way of dismantling sophisticated criminal organizations,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Edward R. Ryan for the Western District of North Carolina. “We are grateful to the law enforcement representatives who teamed up with our office to see this local drug organization and its members through to successful prosecution in federal court. The citizens whom we all serve deserve no less from any of us,” Ryan added.

Starting as early as 2004 and continuing into 2007, the conspiracy was responsible for trafficking multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine and “crack” in Iredell and Mecklenburg Counties. Three federal bills of indictment, charging eight individuals over a ten-month period of time have been the result to date of a multi-agency investigation which began in the Fall of 2006 and is ongoing. During the course of the well-coordinated investigation, law enforcement officials seized dozens of pounds of cocaine and “crack” cocaine, numerous firearms, and hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash.

United States District Judge Richard L. Voorhees sentenced the following individuals who were involved in the drug conspiracy:

Brian Henderson, 29, of Huntersville, was convicted by a jury in Statesville in May 2008, and was sentenced in October 2008 to life plus five years in prison

Carlos Conjo-Berera, 29, of Mexico, was convicted by a jury in Statesville in May 2007, and was sentenced in October 2008 to 324 months in prison and will be subject to deportation

Michael Cherry, 37, of Statesville, pleaded guilty in September 2008, and was sentenced in May 2009 to 20 years in prison

Ambrocio Aly Orozco, 27, of Texas, pleaded guilty in April 2007 and was sentenced in September 2008 to 125 month in prison

Katrina Ikard, 29, of Statesville, pleaded guilty in April 2008 and was sentenced in October 2008 to 10 years in prison

Candice Ikard, 26, of Statesville, pleaded guilty in October 2007 and was sentenced in October 2008 to 5 years in prison

Gregory Kennerly, 30, of Mooresville, pleaded guilty in August 2007 and was sentenced August 4, 2009 to 10 years in prison

Christopher Kennerly, 32, of Mooresville, pleaded guilty in January 2008 and was sentenced August 5, 2009 to 10 years in prison (Docket No. 5:07-cr-23)

The following law enforcement agencies are part of the “Murky Waters” investigation: U.S. Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, Mooresville Police Department, and Statesville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven R. Kaufman handled the prosecutions for the government.

The Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Program of the U.S. Department of Justice is now in its 27th year. The OCDETF strategy includes the leveraging of strengths, resources, and expertise of federal, state and local investigative and prosecutorial agencies, through the formation of prosecutor-led, multi-agency task forces that successfully target drug traffickers through cutting edge, intelligence-based analysis, and investigative work.

For more information about the Justice Department’s OCDETF Program please visit http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/links/ocdetf.html