Memphis, TN – Daniel Gallegos, age 49, and Carmelo Estrada, age 50, were both convicted following a four-day jury trial in Memphis, Tennessee, of one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute more than 1000 kilograms of marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846, announced Edward L. Stanton III, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee. Gallagos and Estrada both face a minimum of ten years and a maximum of life in prison, as well as a fine of $250,000, when they are sentenced on January 4, 2013, before United States District Judge Samuel H. Mays, Jr.

According to the indictment, beginning on or about October of 2010, and continuing until on or about July of 2011, in the Western District of Tennessee, the defendants did unlawfully conspire with each other and with others to possess with the intent to distribute at least 1000 kilograms of a mixture of substance containing a detectable amount of marijuana.

This was a wiretap investigation into a narcotics transportation group headed locally by Vernon Taylor. Twenty-six defendants have been charged in the case. To date over $4,100,000 in U.S. currency and over 800 pounds of marijuana have been seized during the investigation.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration Memphis Field Office and the West Tennessee Drug Task Force Interdiction Team. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jerry Kitchen on behalf of the government.

# # # #

Return to Top