NORFOLK, Va. – Luis R. Taboada, 35, of Chesapeake, VA, pleaded guilty yesterday in Norfolk federal court to one count of conspiring distribute cocaine.

                        Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, made the announcement.  U.S. Magistrate Judge F. Bradford Stillman accepted the plea and scheduled sentencing for November 9, 2011.   Toboada faces up to life in prison.

            According to court documents, Taboada came under suspicion after investigators linked him to an alleged drug trafficker in Tennessee.  Beginning in February 2011, Taboada’s wire communications were intercepted pursuant to a Court order.  In May, investigators intercepted a call related to a drug shipment arriving in the country.  After receiving a search warrant in Florida, investigators discovered 153 kilograms of cocaine.  After the seizure, more calls place4d by Taboada were intercepted.  In these calls, Taboada is attempting to cover his role in the conspiracy, the court records state. 

            This case was investigated by the task force officers of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration and the Chesapeake Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorney Joseph L. Kosky is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

            A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.justice.gov/usao/vae.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.vaed.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.uspci.uscourts.gov.

 

 

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