Mexican Citizen Arraigned on Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

Earlier today, Armando Medina, 32, a citizen of Mexico, made his initial appearance and arraignment on a superseding indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Steven D. Weinhoeft, announced. According to the indictment, the criminal conspiracy operated from approximately May to September 2014 and involved at least 19 named defendants, including Medina. The controlled substances alleged are cocaine and methamphetamine.

If convicted,Medina faces 10 years to life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million, and at least five years of supervised release. Medina was extradited from Mexico earlier this month to face prosecution in the Southern District of Illinois. He has entered a plea of not guilty and is being held without bond pending a detention hearing on November 27. Trial is currently set for January 15, 2019, at the federal courthouse in East St. Louis, Illinois.

Evidence in support of this prosecution was obtained in an investigation conducted under the auspices of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The OCDETF initiative is designed to bring federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and resources together to identify, target and dismantle large national and international drug trafficking organizations. The investigation is being conducted by agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Monica A. Stump.

Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is simply a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.

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Earlier today, Armando Medina, 32, a citizen of Mexico, made his initial appearance and arraignment on a superseding indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Steven D. Weinhoeft, announced. According to the indictment, the criminal conspiracy operated from approximately May to September 2014 and involved at least 19 named defendants, including Medina. The controlled substances alleged are cocaine and methamphetamine.

If convicted,Medina faces 10 years to life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million, and at least five years of supervised release. Medina was extradited from Mexico earlier this month to face prosecution in the Southern District of Illinois. He has entered a plea of not guilty and is being held without bond pending a detention hearing on November 27. Trial is currently set for January 15, 2019, at the federal courthouse in East St. Louis, Illinois.

Evidence in support of this prosecution was obtained in an investigation conducted under the auspices of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The OCDETF initiative is designed to bring federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and resources together to identify, target and dismantle large national and international drug trafficking organizations. The investigation is being conducted by agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Monica A. Stump.

Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is simply a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.