Ten members of an alleged methamphetamine trafficking operation have been indicted on federal drug, firearm, and immigration charges, the Atlanta U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Friday.
“Methamphetamine remains a major threat to our community and it continues to be the main illegally-trafficked drug in this district,” U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak said in a news release. “When people enter our country illegally and traffic meth while in possession of guns, they not only spread their poison, they drive violence in our communities.”
According to the release, beginning in last July, agents with the DEA and the Atlanta-Carolina High Intensity Drug Trafficking Program began investigating. The targets were defendant Hugo Solano-Garcia, also known as Gordo, and his associates in the Atlanta area, for allegedly trafficking meth smuggled into the U.S. from Mexico.
Federal and local law enforcement agents uncovered a series of stash houses and methamphetamine labs in DeKalb and Gwinnett counties, where the defendants would allegedly convert liquid meth into crystal for distribution. Sometimes, the drugs were hidden in hollowed-out fire extinguishers and car batteries. The defendants allegedly barricaded some of the labs and guarded them with guns.
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Agents raided one in an apartment in Brookhaven on January 30, Pak’s released said. In that apartment, agents found about 65 kilos of meth and three firearms.
In total, more than 130 kilos have been seized.
The indictment charges the following defendants with drug trafficking conspiracy:
• Solano-Garcia, who is also charged with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime
• Victor Pacheco-Solano, also known as Pelon or Moro
• Gerardo Calderon-Pacheco, also known as Plebe
• Valentin Solano-Salas, also charged with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime
• Juan Confesor Camilo, also known as Jean Carlos Camilo or Tigre
• Aldrin Barajas-Ramirez, also charged with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, possessing a firearm while in the country illegally, and illegal re-entry after being deported
• Miguel Pacheco-Penaloza, also charged with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possessing a firearm while in the country illegally
• Octavio Pacheco-Torres, also known as Burro, and charged with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime
• Sair Calderon-Pacheco
• Joaquin Reyes-Guillen, also known as Aviel Cabrera-Hernandez.
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