Baltazar Camacho Sentenced To 470 Months In Prison For Cocaine Conspiracy

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - On Nov 4, 2014, Baltazar Camacho, 27, of Michoacàn, Mexico, was sentenced to serve 470 months in prison by the Honorable Thomas A. Varlan, Chief U.S. District Judge. The sentence was the result of a guilty plea by Camacho on the morning of trial in April 2014 to a federal grand jury indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Following a day-and-a-half of testimony from five witnesses, Judge Varlan found that Camacho personally distributed between 150 kilograms and 450 kilograms of cocaine, at a minimum; Camacho was aware at least half of that amount would be converted into crack cocaine and sold; Camacho was an organizer or leader of an extensive criminal activity; and Camacho was armed with a firearm while he participated in the conspiracies.

The indictment and subsequent convictions of Camacho and 15 others were the result of an 18-month investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Roane County Sheriff’s Office, Harriman Police Department, Oak Ridge Police Department, Knoxville Police Department, Knox County Sheriff’s Office, Clinton Police Department, and Loudon County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy L. Stone represented the United States.

U.S. Attorney William C. “Bill” Killian remarked, “Even in a time of intensifying drug activities and fewer law enforcement resources, we will continue to pursue all those who flood our streets with illegal drugs, and particularly those who lead large conspiracies such as these. That effort will never stop.”