Second Trafficker Targeting Eastern North Carolina Sentenced For Methampthetamine Conspiracy

NEW BERN - United States Attorney Thomas G. Walker announced that in federal court today, United States District Judge Louise W. Flanagan sentenced LESLIE FAVIOLA-ALVARADO, 22, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, to 56 months in prison and 5 years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.  FAVIOLA-ALVARADO previously pled guilty to this charge on May 13, 2015.  On June 9, 2015, Judge Flanagan sentenced FAVIOLA-ALVARADO’S co-defendant, FELIPE DE JESUS JARAMILLO-ROSAS, 29, of Gwinnett County, Georgia, to 56 months in prison and 5 years of supervised release.

     The investigation revealed that on June 25, 2013, JARAMILLO-ROSAS and FAVIOLA-ALVARADO took possession of 907 grams of methamphetamine from a source of supply in the Atlanta, Georgia, area and began driving to Johnston County, N.C., to deliver the methamphetamine to drug traffickers.  JARAMILLO-ROSAS and FAVIOLA-ALVARADO arrived in Johnston County on June 26, 2013.  However, the drug traffickers decided not to accept the methamphetamine.  As JARAMILLO-ROSAS and FAVIOLA-ALVARADO were attempting to deliver the methamphetamine back to the suppliers in Atlanta, the North Carolina Highway Patrol stopped their car in Graham, N.C.  The trooper discovered that the driver, JARAMILLO-ROSAS, did not have a valid driver’s license and smelled a strong odor of marijuana from the car.  The trooper asked for and received consent to search the car.  Troopers located the methamphetamine in two plastic containers in the back seat of the car during the consent search.

     This case was part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Operation “Smokin’ Aces”.  Operation “Smokin’ Aces” was designed to attack the infrastructure of Mexican Drug Trafficking Organizations operating not only in the Eastern District of North Carolina, but throughout North Carolina, the United States and Mexico.  These organizations are responsible for the importation of large quantities of cocaine, marijuana, and methamphetamine into the United States, as well as the related remittance of illegal drug proceeds back into Mexico.

The investigation of this case was conducted by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office, the North Carolina Highway Patrol, the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office and the Greenville Police Department.  The federal prosecution was handled by Special Assistant United States Attorney Glenn Perry.  Mr. Perry is a prosecutor with the Pitt County District Attorney’s Office.  Pitt County District Attorney Kimberly Robb has assigned Mr. Perry to the United States Attorney’s Office to prosecute federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force criminal matters.  Mr. Perry’s assignment to the United States Attorney’s Office has been made possible by grants funded by the Governor’s Crime Commission.