High Level International Drug Trafficker, Efrain Urbina Grimaldo, Convicted On Violation Of The Federal Controlled Substances Act

EFRAIN URBINA GRIMALDO aged 33, a citizen of Mexico, was convicted today on conspiracy to possess and distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine before U.S. District Court Judge Sarah S. Vance.  GRIMALDO’s organization distributed hundreds of kilograms of cocaine throughout United States, to include Jackson, Mississippi, Pensacola, Florida, New York City, New York, and Houma, Louisiana.

According to court documents, in September 2009, Drug Enforcement Administration Agents seized cocaine hydrochloride in Houma, Louisiana and April of 2010, the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted a controlled purchase of cocaine hydrochloride from the defendant in Beaumont, Texas.

GRIMALDO was arrested in July 2012, based on a warrant from the Eastern District of Louisiana in Houston, Texas.  At the time of arrest, GRIMALDO was found in possession of false identification documents out of Louisiana, and had surgically altered his fingerprints, in what appeared to be an effort to conceal his identity from law enforcement. 

The defendant faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and a fine of up to $10 million.  Sentencing is scheduled for June 11, 2014.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration New Orleans Office, DEA Houston HIDTA Task Force, Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office, Louisiana State Police Troop C,  Houma Police Department and Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John F. Murphy and Theodore Carter.