Clinton Drug Trafficker Sentenced

WILMINGTON, NC—United States Attorney George E.B. Holding announced that in federal court today Senior United States District Judge James C. Fox sentenced ROGER RAPALO-AMADOR, 31, an illegal resident of Clinton, North Carolina, to 155 months' imprisonment.

A Federal Grand Jury returned a Criminal Indictment on February 17, 2010. On September 8, 2010, RAPALO-AMADOR pled guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.

The investigation revealed that RAPALO-AMADOR was trafficking marijuana out of a residence he was renting from co-defendant Matthew Teachey in Turkey, North Carolina. It was learned that RAPALO-AMADOR was the leader of a larger Honduran drug trafficking organization that was trafficking marijuana from Mexico into Texas and that RAPALO-AMADOR was responsible for moving the marijuana into North Carolina.

When it was learned that RAPALO-AMADOR was receiving 220 pounds of marijuana, a search warrant was executed at the residence. Investigators seized 149 pounds of marijuana, $51,203, and various paraphernalia associated with the trafficking of illegal drugs. At searches conducted at two other residences where RAPALO-AMADOR was known to reside, officers found firearms and more drug paraphernalia. Following the search RAPALO-AMADOR was arrested.

Investigation of this case was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Federal Bureau of Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations and the Sampson County Sheriff's Office. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Wells represented the government.