Calif. man sentenced for trafficking drugs in ND

The Associated Press

Published: Tuesday, Sep. 6, 2011 - 11:34 am
FARGO, N.D. -- A U.S. district court judge in North Dakota sentenced a California man to 18 1/2 years in prison for his role in a drug trafficking and money laundering operation that spanned several states.

United States Attorney Timothy Q. Purdon said 24-year-old Victor Espinoza, from Piru, Calif., was sentenced Tuesday for his role in a trafficking organization that transported methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana from California to North Dakota, Nebraska and Minnesota.

The Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force performed the investigation, called Operation Budapest.

More than 25 people have been sentenced for various drug, firearms and money laundering charges stemming from Operation Budapest.

Investigators also uncovered another drug ring that transported nearly 2,000 pounds of marijuana to the Fargo area and the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation.
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