I.C.E. News Release

October 29, 2008

Three Atlanta Indictments Announced as Part of Multi-State "Operation Pay Cut" Drug Takedown

ICE, IRS, Other Agencies Seize $22 Million in Cash, Hundreds of Kilograms of Drugs, Arrest Dozens in Bust of Mexican Cartel

Atlanta, GA - Three federal indictments unsealed yesterday in Atlanta charge a total of 41 defendants on multiple counts relating to a large-scale drug distribution and money laundering scheme operating in the Northern District of Georgia and the Southern District of Texas.

In a news conference at ICE's Atlanta office announcing the takedown, United States Attorney David E. Nahmias said, "This is another case of a major cartel-related Mexican organization that processed huge amounts of illegal drugs and money through metro Atlanta to many other parts of the country. During this long-term investigation, we took away from the organization about $22 million dollars in drug money-a record amount for an Atlanta case-and hundreds of kilograms of the organization's cocaine and marijuana. We have now indicted dozens of its alleged members, who face long sentences in federal prison."

Kenneth Smith, Special Agent in Charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in Atlanta said, "Seizures such as this strike at the heart of the criminal organization by targeting the financial gain that enables their criminal enterprises to flourish. This case is significant and highlights the cooperative effort of law enforcement working together under the David G. Wilhelm Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Strike Force to dismantle these dangerous organizations."

IRS-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Reginael D. McDaniel said, "Operation Pay Cut is confirmation that drug trafficking is all about the money. Seizing the dirty cash and the assets of these illegal organizations hits criminals where it hurts the most-it deprives them of their profits."

According to the three indictments and information presented in court and other public records: This long-term, multi-agency investigation targeted a group of individuals, indicted and unindicted, who are a part of a cartel-related drug trafficking organization (“DTOâ€