Leaders of Colombian Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to Nineteen Years in Prison

Two Colombian nationals were each sentenced to more than 19 years in prison for their involvement in an international cocaine trafficking conspiracy. 

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and A.D. Wright, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Miami Field Office, made the announcement.

On July 20, 2010, German Bustos-Alarcon a/k/a “Puma” and Rafael Alvarez-Pineda a/k/a “Chepe,” were charged in a single-count indictment in the Southern District of Florida for their participation in large-scale drug trafficking organization based out of Colombia (Case No. 10cr20554).  Bustos-Alarcon and Alvarez-Pineda conspired to traffic large amounts of cocaine from Colombia, through Central America, with the eventual destination being the United States, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 959 and 960.  On March 23, 2015, German Bustos-Alarcon was extradited from Colombia to the Southern District of Florida.  On April 29, 2015, Alvarez-Pineda was also extradited from Colombia to the Southern District of Florida.  Bustos-Alarcon and Alvarez-Pineda each pled guilty to the indictment and were sentenced to 235 months’ imprisonment.

Bustos-Alarcon and Alvarez-Pineda were members of the Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia (AUC) and were principal lieutenants of AUC Leader Ramiro Vanoy-Murrillo a/k/a “Cuco Vanoy” (Case No. 99-CR-6153-KMM).  After the AUC leaders were extradited from Colombia to the United States in May 2008, Bustos-Alarcon and Alvarez-Pineda moved into leadership roles in the area of Caucasia, Colombia.  Bustos-Alarcon and Alvarez-Pineda formed a drug trafficking alliance with Colombia’s largest and most influential BACRIM (banda criminal or criminal group), CLAN USUGA (formerly referred to as Los Urabeños).  Bustos-Alarcon and Alvarez-Pineda purchased cocaine from laboratories and sold it to members of the CLAN USUGA, who then transported the narcotics to Central America and eventually on to the United States. 

These cases are the result of the ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The OCDETF mission is to identify, investigate, and prosecute high level members of drug trafficking enterprises, bringing together the combined expertise and unique abilities of federal, state and local law enforcement.

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the DEA.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael B. Nadler.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.