News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 03, 2010
Contact: Rich Isaacson
Number: (313) 234-4310

Seven Arrested in Major Marijuana Seizure in Kentucky

Over 4000 pounds of marijuana and $440,000 seized in DEA Investigation

MAR 03 - LOUISVILLE, KY - United States Attorney Candace G. Hill of the Western District of Kentucky announced today that on March 1, 2010, seven individuals were charged in U.S. District Court in Louisville, Kentucky, for conspiracy to possess and distribute more than 1000 kilograms of marijuana. Fernando Cortez-Briones, of Louisville, Kentucky; Cupertino Gonzalez-Alverado, of Louisville, Kentucky; Exsaul Silva-Garcia, of McAllen, Texas; Carlos Mora-Sanchez, of Louisville, Kentucky; Rodrigo Macias-Farias, of Louisville, Kentucky; Rafael Lara-Gascon, of Crestwood, Kentucky; and Eladio Hernandez-Lopez, of Crestwood, Kentucky, were all charged in a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court. Six of the defendants appeared in federal court yesterday for a preliminary hearing. The seventh, Hernandez-Lopez, will have a preliminary hearing on Thursday, March 4.

According to an affidavit filed with the court, Special Agents of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) identified a semi-trailer truck delivering a load of marijuana to a farm in Louisville on February 25, 2010. The agents observed the truck get stuck in the driveway of a Louisville, Kentucky, farm and become lodged in a ditch. A drug dog called to scene alerted on the trailer, indicating the presence of drugs. The trailer was searched and 3,700 pounds of marijuana were recovered from the truck. The defendants were all arrested at that time. DEA agents subsequently searched two other locations resulting in the recovery of an additional 500 pounds of marijuana, approximately $440,000 in cash, a money counting machine, and a night- vision scope.

At the conclusion of yesterday’s hearing, Magistrate Judge James Moyer found, as to the six defendants, sufficient evidence to justify presentation of the case to the grand jury for possible indictment.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mac Shannon, and is being investigated by Special Agents and Task Force Officers of the DEA.

A criminal Complaint is an accusation only and that person is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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http://www.justice.gov/dea/pubs/states/ ... 30310.html