NORFOLK, VA—Hermes Andrade Quintero, 45, of Medellin, Colombia, was sentenced today to 164 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to manufacture and distribute cocaine for the purpose of importation into the United States. His co-conspirator Osvaldo Jose Lopez Herrera, 37, of Ayapel Cordoba, Colombia, was sentenced to a term of 156 months, followed by five years of supervised release, for the same charge.

Dana J. Boente, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Karl C. Colder, Special Agent in Charge for Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Office; and John S. Adams, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson.

Andrade Quintero and Lopez Herrera pleaded guilty on March 12 and 23, 2015, respectively, to conspiracy to manufacture and distribute cocaine for the purpose of importation into the United States. According to court documents, both men are associates of the Bacrim Los Urabeños, and admitted to their roles in the production of large quantities of cocaine in Colombia, and the subsequent transport of the cocaine to other members of the conspiracy for the eventual importation into the United States. Within the conspiracy, Andrade Quintero was responsible for constructing and operating a cocaine laboratory, transporting loads of cocaine, finding sellers of cocaine to fill orders, and coordinating payment for various loads of narcotics. Over the course of his two-year involvement in the conspiracy, he was attributed with the production and distribution of nearly 900 kilograms of cocaine. Lopez Herrera’s role was that of a courier, transporting several hundred kilograms of cocaine at a time to the Colombian coast, where additional co-conspirators exported it to the United States and elsewhere. All told, during the four years he worked with the conspiracy, Lopez Herrera was involved in the transportation of 2,300 kilograms of cocaine.

This case was investigated by the Norfolk Resident Office and Bogota, Colombia Country Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Colombian National Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys V. Kathleen Dougherty and Kevin M. Comstock are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:13cr122.