Recent Posts in Narcotics Conspiracy Category

A man identified as a drug kingpin and a key defendant in a federal gang sweep was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for overseeing the racketeering and drug activities of the Varrio Hawaiian Gardens street gang. George Manuel Flores was arrested in 2009 as part of Operation Knockout, one of the nation's largest gang sweeps. He was labeled a leader in the Hawaiian Gardens gangs and was accused of ordering gang members to collect taxes from drug dealers in this Los Angeles county city. He pleaded guilty to five counts including racketeering conspiracy, being a felon in possession of ammunition and other drug charges. Flores was sentenced by a United States District Judge, who is presiding over the 57-defendant racketeering indictment. Prosecutors portrayed Flores as a drug lord.

As part of his guilty plea, he admitted to distributing mass quantities of drugs, including more than 30 kilograms of heroin, more than 4.5 kilograms of crack cocaine, more than 1.5 kilograms of pure methamphetamine, more than 15 kilograms of narcotics that contained methamphetamine, and more than 100 kilograms of marijuana.

The investigation began after Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputy Jerry Ortiz was murdered in 2005 by a gang member he was attempting to arrest. In 2009, about 170 gang members were taken into custody in the massive operation. Flores is the last defendant to be sentenced in this federal prosecution. Marcos Romero was sentenced last November to 291 months in federal prison for being a primary wholesaler of narcotics. Brian Viramontes was sentenced in September to 210 months in federal prison for distributing narcotics. This case also revealed a link between the Nazi Low Riders and the gang. Frank Wayne Henley, a member of the Nazi Low Riders gang, was sentenced last November to 262 months in federal prison for supplying members of the Hawaiian Gardens gang with methamphetamine and heroin.

Federal crimes can be labeled as such by falling under federal legislation of Title 18 of the United States Code. A federal crime is defined as a crime that is either made illegal by falling under this legislation, or because of occurring on federal property. Federal crimes are normally investigated by the FBI and are tried in the Federal Court system. Federal courts have their own governing rules and regulations which are different from California State laws. If you are facing federal criminal charges, you will need to discuss your case with a federal criminal defense lawyer who has the special knowledge of this area of the law. At Marks & Brooklier, we have qualified Los Angeles federal criminal defense attorneys to represent you.

Federal criminal defense attorneys Donald Marks and Anthony Brooklier are uniquely qualified to represent you in court. They have represented defendants in virtually every major organized crime case prosecuted in Southern California. In 1980, Marks & Brooklier was lead counsel in the "Los Angeles Mafia" case in a major RICO conspiracy case. Conact our office anytime, 24/7, for a free case evaluation. All consultations are strictly confidential.

The investigation into the home on the 13700 block of Polk Street began with a tip received by narcotics detectives at the Los Angeles Police Department's Foothill division. Foothill detectives went to the home and found nine people there. Eventually bomb squad and Special Weapons and Tactics officers were called out, along with several Los Angeles fire trucks. Officers seized a rifle, a silencer and a stolen car and were beginning to search an evacuated part of the property.

Because of the severity of the sentencing that can occur with a methamphetamine conviction, it is important that you consult an aggressive Los Angeles methamphetamine criminal defense lawyer immediately. If you have been arrested for any type of drug crime, you will need an attorney to take immediate action on your behalf to represent you at a bail hearing and proceed with the necessary actions to move your case forward. Criminal defense lawyers Donald Marks and Anthony Brooklier have been able to challenge evidence obtained improperly and have charges reduced, or even dismissed. When you retain Marks & Brooklier as your criminal defense attorneys, you can be assured you will have the best counsel representing you. Contact our office today for your free consultation.

According to a 26-count indictment filed on October 7, 2010, Amador Eli Rosales aka Eli Rosales, 32; Tony Rosales, 29; Albert Vasquez, 40; Adrianna Cano, 33; Jonathan Gonzalez, 32; Michael Leonard Lovato, 44; Michael Valentino Lovato, 21; Andre Kovacs, 44; Nicole Garcia, 32; Derick Noble, 27, all of Sacramento; and James Murphy, 55, of Elk Grove, are charged with conspiring to distribute methamphetamine, the distribution of methamphetamine, and the unlawful use of a communication facility. Bryan Perez, 33, of Sacramento was indicted separately for two counts of distribution of methamphetamine. According to court documents, during the course of this investigation, Eli Rosales and others sold methamphetamine to a confidential source.

This case is the product of an extensive investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Task Force, which includes the Sacramento Police Department, the California Highway Patrol, and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, assisted by the Sacramento HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area) team. 

Nine defendants appeared for arraignment and entered not guilty pleas before United States Magistrate Judge Dale A. Drozd. Albert Vasquez and James Murphy have not yet been arrested. Derick Noble is in state custody on other charges and will be transferred to federal custody at a later date.

U.S. Attorney Wagner said, “Methamphetamine is a highly dangerous drug infecting our communities. Targeting methamphetamine distributors is an effective way to combat the spread of this drug, while also reducing the violence and other criminal activity associated with meth trafficking.”

Special Agent in Charge Parenti said, “The FBI has a long and successful history of utilizing the Safe Streets Violent Crime Initiative with our law enforcement partners across the country to combat violent crime. The indictments and arrests related to this case offer further proof that this approach to rooting out the criminals plaguing our neighborhoods is working.”

The statutory penalty for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine is a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years up to life, a fine of $4 million or both; the maximum penalty associated with the distribution of methamphetamine is 40 years in prison depending on the quantity and purity levels; the penalty for unlawful use of a communication facility is up to four years in prison or $250,000 fine or both. The actual sentence, however, will 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.

Criminal defense attorneys Donald Marks and Anthony Brooklier have been representing clients on drug trafficking matters since 1976. We are well aware of all the issues and complexities that can arise from such charges and have successfully handled numerous cases for our clients. When faced with drug trafficking charges you need experienced Los Angeles drug trafficking criminal defense lawyers with extensive experience in representing clients for drug crimes. Such charges could include offenses for drug possession, drug trafficking and other drug related charges. If you or someone you know has been charged with a drug crime, we recommend you contact us in order to begin to prepare your case for a successful defense.

According to the indictment, in the Safescripts Online conspiracy, which began in November 2004 and continued until December 2006, eight individuals conspired to distribute in excess of $22.2 million worth of controlled substances outside the scope of professional medical practice and without establishing a legitimate medical purpose for the drugs. The individuals charged are: Christopher Napoli, 44, of Newtown Square, Pa.; Joseph Carozza, M.D., 65, of Garden City, N.Y.; Daniel Johnson, 38, of Pekin, Ill.; Jeffrey Herholz, 43, of Fayetteville, N.C.; Darrell Creque, 60, of Clayton, N.C.; Jeffrey Entel, 40, of the Dominican Republic, Steven Paul, 49, of Glendale, Ariz.; and Salvatore Lamorte, 52, of Freehold, N.J. All of the defendants were charged with conspiracy to distribute schedule III and IV controlled substances, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846, and conspiracy to launder money, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(h). In addition, all but Paul were charged with distribution of the schedule IV controlled substance Phentermine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), and all but Creque were charged with conspiracy to launder money, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(h).

The indictment also alleges that, in the Pitcairn conspiracy, which ran between May 2003 and April 2007, five defendants sold at least $55 million worth of controlled substances outside the scope of professional medical practice and without establishing a legitimate medical purpose for the drugs. The individuals charged are: Michael Arnold, 40, of Boca Raton, Fla.; Diego Podolsky Paes, 29, of Brazil; Lamorte, Herholz, and Creque. All of the defendants were charged with conspiracy to distribute schedule III and IV controlled substances, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846. In addition, Lamorte, Arnold, and Paes were charged with four counts of distribution of the schedule IV controlled substance Phentermine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), and all defendants but Creque were charged with conspiracy to launder money, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(h).

According to the indictment, during the United Mail Pharmacy Services conspiracy, which began in January 2006 and ended in March 2008, three defendants conspired to distribute in excess of $48 million worth of controlled substances outside the scope of professional medical practice and without establishing a legitimate medical purpose for the drugs. The individuals charged are Paul, Entel, and Dino Antonioni, 42, of Miramar, Fla. All three were charged with conspiracy to distribute schedule III and IV controlled substances, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846, and conspiracy to launder money, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(h). Entel and Antonioni were also charged with the Attempted Distribution of Schedule III and IV Controlled Substances, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846, and international money laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1956(a)(2)(A).

The narcotics conspiracy offenses (21 U.S.C. § 846) carry a maximum penalty of: five years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. The offense of distribution of a schedule IV controlled substance (21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1)) carries a maximum penalty of: three years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, one year of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. The offense of attempted distribution of schedule III and IV controlled substances (21 U.S.C. § 846) carries a maximum penalty of: five years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. The money laundering offenses (18 U.S.C. §§ 1956(h) and 1956(a)(2)(A)) carry a minimum penalty of: 20 years of imprisonment, a fines of up to $500,000, or twice the value of the property involved in the offense, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

The indictment was obtained in connection with an international investigation of illegal Internet pharmacies that began in 2005. The investigation has resulted in the indictment of 37 federal defendants, the conviction of 26 individuals on federal criminal charges, and the dismantling of more than five Internet pharmacies that illegally distributed more than 80 million doses of controlled substances to users in the United States. As a result of the investigation, law enforcement agents have seized more than $39 million in cash and assets, including several high value homes and multiple luxury vehicles.

The federal criminal cases resulted from an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation involving the coordinated efforts of multiple federal and state law enforcement agencies plus foreign authorities from several jurisdictions. The law enforcement agencies include the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division, U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, the Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Boards of Pharmacy from North Carolina, Florida, Kansas, Colorado, Connecticut, and Louisiana. Significant additional assistance was provided by authorities in Brazil, Panama, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Romania, Costa Rica, The Netherlands Antilles, St. Kitts and Nevis, and the Bahamas. Additional federal prosecutions are contemplated upon completion of the ongoing investigations.

Criminal defense attorneys Donald Marks and Anthony Brooklier have been representing clients on conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and other drug related matters since 1976. When faced with drug conspiracy charges you need experienced Los Angeles criminal defense lawyers with experience in representing individuals for drug crime charges. If you have been charged with a drug conspiracy crime, we recommend you contact us in order to begin to prepare your case for a successful defense.