Fourteen Defendants Indicted in Cocaine Conspiracy

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Following a year-long investigation by a task force of federal and local law enforcement officers in four states and the District of Columbia, the United States has charged fourteen defendants in a federal indictment with conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.

According to the indictment, which was issued yesterday, the defendants represent various components in a criminal enterprise responsible for importing bulk quantities of cocaine from Mexico into the United States and distributing it throughout the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The defendants include alleged street level dealers with ties to the transnational 18th Street gang. During the course of arrests in June 2015, agents recovered multiple firearms, distribution quantities of cocaine, and over $45,000 in U.S. currency.

The defendants charged in yesterday’s indictment include:

• Roberto Carlos Esparza Suarez, also known as “Soldier,” 26, of Dale City, Virginia

• Joaquin Santana Rivera Mejia, also known as “Chino,” 37

• Christopher Flores, also known as “Magic,” 36, of Gaithersburg, Maryland

• Juan Delao, also known as “Tony” and “Chiki,” 41, of Triangle, Virginia

• Josue Emmanuel Rivera Lemus, also known as “Chipi,” 32, of Riverdale, Maryland

• Fredy Armando Pereira, also known as “Shakira” and “Rat,” 36, of Adelphi, Maryland

• Lisette Natali Cordova, 24, of Dale City, Virginia

• Laura Shepherd, 38, of Berwyn Heights, Maryland

• Jose Komairo Hernandez Lopez, 34, of Woodbridge, Virginia

• Alexander Lorenzo, 33, of Hyattsville, Maryland

• Jeovany Francisco Andrade, 29, of Rockville, Maryland

• Marco Valdez Hernandez, 35, of Denver, Colorado

• Jorge Enrique Mendez Limon, 34, of Berwyn Heights, Maryland

• Luis Manuel Villa Castelan, 34, of the Bronx, NY

Almost all of the defendants face a minimum penalty of ten years and a maximum penalty of life in prison if convicted. The minimum and maximum statutory sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as the sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Furthermore, eight guilty pleas have been entered by co-conspirators in this case. Those include:

• Edgar Hernandez, also known as “Pelon,” 33, of Berwyn Heights, Maryland, who pleaded guilty on August 18, 2015 to charges of conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and possession of a firearm used in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

• Jose Ulloa Sanchez, also known as “Alfredo Ulloa” and “Mexico,” 35, of Dumfries, Virginia, who pleaded guilty on August 18, 2015 to a charge of conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.

• Jessica Hernandez, of Berwyn Heights, Maryland, who pleaded guilty on August 19, 2015 to a charge of conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.

• Walter Blanco Lopez, 21, of Alexandria, Virginia, who pleaded guilty on August 19, 2015 to a charge of conspiracy to distribute cocaine.

• Guillermo Castellon, also known as “Memo,” 27, of Woodbridge, Virginia, pleaded guilty on August 13, 2015 to a charge of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.

• Rodrigo Torres, also known as “Jerry Reyes,” 29, of Riverdale, Maryland pleaded guilty August 11, 2015 to a charge of conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.

• Oscar Marroquin, also known as “Joker,” 27, of Manassas, Virginia, pleaded guilty on August 13, 2015 to a charge of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.

• Sifredo Anthony Barrientos, also known as “Big Boy,” 24, of Manassas, Virginia, pleaded guilty on July 17, 2015 to a charge of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Andrew G. McCabe, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office; Clark E. Settles, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington; and Stephan M. Hudson, Prince William County Chief of Police, made the announcement after the pleas were accepted by U.S. District Judges Gerald Bruce Lee, Claude M. Hilton, and James C. Cacheris.

This case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, ICE-HSI Washington, and the Prince William County Police Department. Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer A. Clarke and Andrea Duvall are prosecuting the case.

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. 1:15-cr-183.