All but one of these would be eligible for amnesty under the Dream Act, meeting the age requirement.

4 Arrested in Winston-Salem for Connections to D.C. Meth Ring


Staff Writer

4:19 p.m. EST, December 16, 2010




WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (WGHP) —
Four members of a Mexican drug cartel involved in trafficking millions of dollars in methamphetamine were arrested Monday in Winston-Salem, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials announced Wednesday.

Esteban Almontes Rodriguez, 25, Alberto Garcia Calderon, 36, Alejandro Quintana Cardenas, 25, and Moises Ramirez-Perez, 19, were arrested in Winston-Salem Monday. Four others were arrested in Atlanta, and all are connected to the La Familia drug cartel officials said.

The Winston-Salem Journal reported Calderon, a Winston-Salem resident, has been named one of the key players in delivering large amounts of meth to Washington, D.C.

All were indicted on a charge of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 500 or more grams of meth, which carries a sentence of 10 years to life in prison.

Six pounds of marijuana were found in an apartment in Winston-Salem as part of a larger drug search that spanned several states. Overall, authorities seized more than $3.5 million worth of meth, nearly $50,000 worth of marijuana, $118,000 worth of cocaine and more than $35,000 in cash. Three firearms were also seized.

All are being held without bond after court hearings in Georgia and North Carolina. All will appear in U.S. District Court in Washington for court appearances at a later date.

A ninth person, known only as Jorge, remains at large.

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