April 10, 2007 - United States Attorney Patrick L. Meehan today announced the filing of a five-count indictment* charging that Benjamin Castro, a/k/a Daniel Rivera, a/k/a “Raul,” a/k/a “Julio Cesar Rivera,” a/k/a “Acevedo, and Jesus Reyes Cardenas-Herrera conspired with each other and others known and unknown to the grand jury to possess with the intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine and more than one kilogram of heroin and possession of a firearm in furtherance of the drug trafficking. In addition, defendant Castro have also been charged with possession with the intent to distribute quantities of heroin. Defendant Cardenas-Herrera is also charged with possession of a firearm as an illegal alien.
If convicted on Count One, each defendant faces a maximum of life imprisonment, a mandatory minimum of 10 years imprisonment, 10 years supervised release, and a $8,000,000 fine. If convicted on Count Two, defendant Castro faces a maximum of twenty years imprisonment, 3 years supervised release and a $1,000,000 fine. If convicted on Count Three, defendant Castro faces a maximum of life imprisonment, a mandatory minimum of 5 years, 4 years supervised release, and a $4,000,000 fine. If convicted on Count Four, each defendant face a maximum of life imprisonment and a mandatory minimum consecutive sentence of 5 years imprisonment, 5 years supervised release and a $250,000 fine. If convicted on Count Five, defendant Cardenas-Herrera faces a maximum of ten years, 3 years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine. There is a $100 special assessment for each count.
DEFENDANT |
|
AGE [Date of Birth] |
Benjamin Castro |
Philadelphia, PA. |
1979 |
Jesus Reyes Cardenas-Herrera |
Mexico |
1954 |
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Philadelphia Police Department, and has been assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Karen S. Marston.
UNITED
STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE |
Contact: |
*An Indictment or Information is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Benjamin Franklin Photo by B. Krist for the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation