Members of a Mexican Drug-Trafficking Organization Convicted and Sentenced to Federal Prison

ATLANTA – Genaro Anguiar-Guizar has been sentenced to 17 years and six months in prison for his leadership role in a cocaine and methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy. Anguiar-Guizar is the last of five defendants to be convicted and sentenced for charges including conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine.

“This Atlanta based drug trafficking organization used a network of couriers and stash houses to smuggle cocaine and methamphetamine from Mexico to our community,” said U.S. Attorney John Horn.  “Atlanta remains a hub for the importation of illegal drugs from Mexico after it crosses the border, and this case reflects our continued efforts to combat the influence and activity of these cartels in our city.”

“ICE Homeland Security Investigations will continue to focus investigative efforts on dismantling and bringing to justice members of drug trafficking organizations that choose to participate in the supply and sale of illicit narcotics like methamphetamine and cocaine. These individuals and organizations show a complete disregard for the violence and destruction that often accompany the use of highly addictive drugs,” said Special Agent in Charge of ICE Homeland Security Investigations Atlanta Nick S. Annan. “The boldness of this criminal group reflected a callous disregard for public safety that seriously underestimated the dedication of HSI and its local law enforcement partners to identify and seek prosecution of those engaged in this criminal conspiracy.”

According to U.S. Attorney Horn, the charges, and other information presented in court:  the Anguiar-Guizar drug-trafficking organization imported large quantities of drugs into the U.S. from Mexico, initially storing them at a local auto body repair shop.  From this location, the drugs were later parceled out to local residences for storage and distribution.  Co-conspirators procured and guarded the residences, and also transported the narcotics and the drug money in secret traps located within vehicles. 

During the course of the investigation, law enforcement seized nearly 19 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine and 69 grams of pure liquid methamphetamine from a residence in Jonesboro, Georgia, as well as nearly 30 kilograms of cocaine from a vehicle and residence in Morrow, Georgia.

Genaro Anguiar-Guizar, 35, of Buenavista, Michoacan, Mexico, was convicted on June 1, 2016, after he pleaded guilty.  He was sentenced to 17 years, six months in prison, to be followed by 15 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $11,601.00 in restitution.  Four other members of the organization have already been sentenced.  They are as follows:

• Irma Ruelas, 36, of Morrow, Georgia, previously was sentenced to five years and three months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release on the same conspiracy charge. Ruelas was convicted on July 19, 2014.
• Julian Esparza-Tovar, 32, of Morrow, Georgia, previously was sentenced to five years and three months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release on the same conspiracy charge.  Esparza was convicted on July 11, 2014.
• Veronica Hernandez, 44, of Morrow, Georgia, previously was sentenced to 12 years and seven months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release on the same conspiracy charge. Hernandez was convicted on June 19, 2014.
• Manuel Guizar-Sanchez, 23, of Jonesboro, Georgia, previously was sentenced to five years and ten months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release on the charge of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.  Guizar was convicted on December 4, 2013.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations with assistance of Clayton County Police Department.

Assistant United States Attorneys Tasheika Hinson and Ryan M. Christian prosecuted the case.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta recommends parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following web site: www.justthinktwice.com.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.