Mexican National Arrested After Drug Dog Finds Smuggled Narcotics

A Mexican national woman faces federal criminal charges after a drug-sniffing canine alerted on dog food bags in her vehicle which were subsequently found to contain more than 50 pounds of methamphetamine.

America Alejandra Quintana, 26, was arraigned in Fresno Wednesday, January 9, 2013, on federal methamphetamine trafficking charges and pleaded not guilty. She was indicted Jan. 3 on one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Quintana's next court date is Feb. 19.

According to court documents, on Dec. 10, 2012, Quintana was stopped for a traffic violation in Madera County and a drug detection dog alerted on the dog food bags. Inside, investigators discovered 52 plastic bags each containing about one pound of methamphetamine. Quintana was arrested on state charges, which were dropped following the issuance of the federal indictment.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Fresno Methamphetamine Task Force, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the California Highway Patrol and the California Department of Justice. Assistant United States Attorney Melanie L. Alsworth is prosecuting the case.

If convicted, Quintana faces a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Puerto Rican Drug Ring Leader Sentenced to Life in Prison

The leader of a major drug trafficking organization arrested during the execution of Operation Grayskull by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) was sentenced Wednesday, December 12, 2012, to life in prison by U.S. District Judge Carmen Consuelo Cerezo.

Ismael Vazquez-Larrauri, 39, of Cayey, Puerto Rico, was found guilty June 15 of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute heroin, cocaine, cocaine base and marijuana within public housing projects and schools.

HSI special agents, working jointly with federal, state and local law enforcement partners, conducted simultaneous enforcement actions Aug. 25, 2008, in an operation dubbed Operation Grayskull in the Puerto Rican municipalities of Cayey, Salinas, Guayama, Coamo, Santa Isabel and Jayuya that resulted in the arrest of 64 individuals allegedly involved in a drug trafficking conspiracy. Vazquez-Larrauri, the leader of the organization, remained fugitive but was subsequently arrested May 1, 2009.

According to the Aug. 5, 2008, indictment, which charged 71 individuals for drug trafficking, the object of the conspiracy was to purchase wholesale quantities of heroin, cocaine, marijuana, Oxycodone (Percocet) and Alprazolam (Xanax) for distribution at several public housing projects in Cayey and at drug distribution points in the municipalities of Salinas, Coamo, Santa Isabel, Guayama and Jayuya, all for a significant financial gain and profit.

The indictment further alleges that some of the cocaine purchased was cooked in order to make cocaine-based crack that was later distributed, along with heroin, cocaine and marijuana, in small bags at the drug selling points. The leaders of the organization divided the proceeds of the drug trafficking sales among themselves and their subordinates.

The 71 individuals charged had different roles in the conspiracy, such as leaders, suppliers, runners, enforcers and facilitators to further the goals of the conspiracy. The charging document also alleges that some of the co-conspirators used residences in order to package and conceal the controlled substances as well as the materials to process the contraband.

"The importation of illegal narcotics into the United States is a very serious crime and the unscrupulous persons involved will not receive reprieve from law enforcement," said Angel Melendez, acting special agent-in-charge of HSI San Juan. "In our efforts to keep drugs off the streets of Puerto Rico, we will continue using all of our resources to identify and dismantle drug trafficking and money laundering organizations that operate within our jurisdiction."

ICE encourages the public to report suspected weapons and narcotics smuggling, and related information by calling at 1-866-DHS-2ICE. For more information, visit www.ice.gov.

Target Operation Arrests Four Alleged Drug Traffickers

Federal and local investigators fanned out across San Joaquin County and the San Jose area the morning of Thursday, November 29, 2012, to execute nine search warrants and arrest four suspects as part of a multi-agency probe into a local drug ring suspected of distributing high-grade methamphetamine.

The enforcement actions are the latest development in an ongoing investigation that commenced in March after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) received a lead about a possible methamphetamine distribution scheme operating in and around Lodi and Stockton. During the ensuing investigation, HSI undercover special agents posing as drug dealers bought methamphetamine from the case suspects on two occasions. Subsequent tests by a Drug Enforcement Administration lab indicated the substance was 99 percent pure D-methamphetamine-hydrochloride.

"This investigation has dealt a serious blow to a ring we believe was funneling significant quantities of high-grade methamphetamine into the San Joaquin Valley," said Clark Settles, special agent in charge for HSI San Francisco. "In fact, the methamphetamine seized in this case is some of the most pure we've seen locally. These arrests have disrupted a potentially deadly supply chain and prevented dangerous drugs from reaching our streets."

The defendants taken into custody Thursday, November 29, 2012, as part of the case are:

·                             Thomas Jaime Orozco, 31, of Stockton, the alleged leader of the organization;

·                             Vincent Joseph Camarillo, 25, of Stockton, Orozco's cousin;

·                             Theodore Roosevelt Ohagen, 21, of Stockton; and

·                             Jeffrey Lawrence Lamendola, 50, of Lodi.

During the enforcement actions of Thursday, November 29, 2012, investigators seized three pistols, including two that had been stolen, approximately $15,000 in cash, more than 1/4 pound of methamphetamine, along with small quantities of marijuana and cocaine.

The defendants are charged in a criminal complaint with distribution of methamphetamine and conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. They were expected to make their initial appearance in federal court the afternoon of Friday, November 30, 2012, in Sacramento. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of California.

The allegations in the complaint are only accusations and all persons are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

HSI received substantial assistance with the case from the Lodi Police Department, the San Joaquin County Metropolitan Narcotics Task Force and the Manteca Police Department.