HIDTA TASK FORCE INVESTIGATION RESULTS IN FEDERAL PRISON
SENTENCES
FOR 11 HIGH-LEVEL DRUG DEALERS
ATLANTA
- Marcelo Garcia, 27, of Atlanta, and ten of his co-conspirators have
been sentenced in federal court for running a massive methamphetamine
distribution ring in the metro Atlanta area. Garcia was sentenced to 25
years in federal prison. He and his drug organization distributed
hundreds of pounds of extremely pure methamphetamine, worth hundreds of
thousands of dollars, in the metro Atlanta area. Garcia was the key
target of a joint federal-local investigation coordinated by the
Atlanta High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force. The
case brought together the Atlanta Police Department and investigators
from several federal agencies, including FBI, ICE and ATF.
"This
outcome, the long-term incarceration of a major-league drug dealer,
shows the powerful benefits of law enforcement coordination," said U.S.
Attorney David E. Nahmias of the Northern District of Georgia. "By
getting the Garcia organization and its drugs off our streets, federal
and local agents have done our community a great service. This
investigation resulted in the conviction and imprisonment of more than
a dozen high-level drug dealers, led by Marcelo Garcia."
U.S.
District Court Judge Richard W. Story sentenced Garcia to 25 years in
federal prison. Garcia and several of his co-defendants are subject to
deportation upon completion of their sentences. Co-conspirators Ty
Beach, Hugo Cruz, Luis Gomez, Carla Gonzales, Matt Hemby, Michelle
Krajewski, Jason Mietelski, Zujey Ramirez, Jorge Rivero and Cheryl
Sumner have also been sentenced to terms ranging from four to 14 years
in federal prison. Two additional defendants, Jesus Gomez and Fidel
Presmanes, will be sentenced in mid-August by Judge Story. The case was
indicted in March 2005 and all of the defendants pleaded guilty.
This case was investigated by agents from HIDTA, the Atlanta Police Department, FBI, ICE and ATF.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert C.I. McBurney and former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney John Lovell prosecuted the case.
