Two Leaders Of A Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced To 25 Years And 11 Years For Methamphetamine Conspiracy And Related Charges

TULSA, Okla. – Two leaders of a drug trafficking organization were sentenced in United States District Court for drug conspiracy and possession with the intent to distribute 15 kilograms or more of methamphetamine; maintaining drug-involved premises; and possession of firearms and ammunition, announced Danny C. Williams, Sr., U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma.

United States District Court Judge Claire V. Eagan sentenced Samuel Garcia-Escalera, 36, to 300 months, and Joel Deloera-Escalera, 34, to 135 months in prison after guilty convictions following a five day jury trial. The defendants were charged in a second Superseding Indictment on April 14, 2014. Garcia-Escalera was also sentenced for attempted witness tampering after pleading guilty to a separate criminal Information filed August 25, 2014, for his efforts to prevent witnesses from testifying at the trial.

“The defendants operated a drug trafficking network, supplying methamphetamine to other traffickers, who then supplied to mid-level distributors,” said U.S. Attorney Williams. “The defendants’ activity was disrupted and dismantled by local, state, and federal law enforcement in Oklahoma.”

From April 2012 to August 2013, Garcia-Escalera and Deloera-Escalera conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 15 kilograms or more of methamphetamine; maintained houses for the purpose of storing and distributing methamphetamine; and, were aliens illegally and unlawfully in the United States. In addition, Garcia-Escalera possessed a .45 caliber pistol in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and Deloera-Escalera possessed a .40 caliber pistol, 9mm caliber semi-automatic pistol, a .22 caliber revolver, and various ammunitions.

As a part of their sentence, Judge Eagan entered a forfeiture money judgment in the amount of $1,283,620 representing proceeds obtained as a result of the methamphetamine conspiracy and also entered a preliminary order of forfeiture of seized currency.

The case was investigated by the Tulsa Police Department, Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted on behalf of the United States by Assistant United States Attorneys Gary L. Davis, II, Jan Reincke, and Catherine Depew.