AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC at 410-209-4885

MARCH 7, 2006

I-95 TRAFFIC STOP RESULTS IN ARREST OF NORTH CAROLINA MAN IN POSSESSION OF 79 KILOS OF COCAINE

BALTIMORE, Maryland - United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein announces that today Ramon Pena, age 26, of Durham, North Carolina, was charged by complaint with possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, in connection with his possession of about 79 kilograms of cocaine at the time of his arrest following a traffic stop.

According to the affidavit in support of the complaint, on March 6, 2006 a Maryland State Trooper stopped a vehicle on northbound Interstate 95 at the 101.3 mile marker in Cecil County, Maryland, for following another vehicle too closely. The trooper noticed a large suitcase on the rear seat and that Pena’s hands were shaking uncontrollably. The trooper requested a canine scan, which resulted in a positive alert for the presence of narcotics. A search of the vehicle revealed numerous compressed bricks of cocaine in two suitcases in the trunk and in a suitcase on the back seat, for a total of 79 large, compressed bricks of suspected cocaine, each weighing roughly one kilogram. Subsequent chemical tests indicated the presence of cocaine in at least two of those bricks. $21, 980 was also recovered from the vehicle.

Pena faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment with a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release and a $4,000,000 fine. The defendant had his initial appearance in U.S. District Court at 3:00 p.m. today. A detention hearing is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. tomorrow (March 8) at which time it will be determined whether Pena will be held in jail, pending trial.

An complaint is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by complaint is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the investigative work performed by the Maryland State Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Romano, who is prosecuting the case.