ATF Online - Miami Field Division Press Release

SEVEN CONVICTED OF ROBBERY, WEAPONS, AND DRUG-TRAFFICKING CHARGES SENTENCED TO PRISON

R. Alexander Acosta, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Hugo Barrera, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and Robert Parker, Director, Miami-Dade Police Department, announced that seven defendants previously convicted of robbery, weapons, and drug-trafficking charges were sentenced by United States District Court Judge Paul C. Huck to substantial terms of imprisonment. The sentencing’s took place on August 13, 2008 and concluded today.

After a three-month investigation targeting armed drug robbery crews, on March 12, 2008, a joint state and federal task force arrested defendants Freddy Crespo, Daniel Garcia-Barzaga, Jorge Torres, Armando Serrano, Raul Zamora, Pedro Gallego, and Yanko Garcia. Defendants Serrano, Zamora, Gallego, and Garcia pled guilty to charges, including conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, conspiracy to commit robbery, and possession of a firearm in the furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. Defendants Crespo, Garcia-Barzaga, and Torres proceeded to trial, and were convicted on June 4, 2008 of a total of 18 counts, which included drug-trafficking, robbery, and weapons charges.

On August 13, 2008, Crespo was sentenced to 420 months’ imprisonment; Garcia-Barzaga was sentenced to 222 months’ imprisonment, Zamora was sentenced to 164 months’ imprisonment, and Gallego was sentenced to 180 months’ imprisonment. On August 21, 2008, Serrano was sentenced to 260 months’ imprisonment. On August 27, 2008, Jorge Torres was sentenced to 380 months’ imprisonment and Garcia was sentenced to 81months’ imprisonment.

The investigation began when ATF learned of individuals believed to be involved in the organization of armed robberies in the South Florida area. The investigation was spearheaded by special agents with the HIDTA Street Terror Offender Program (STOP), a multi-agency task force that was especially formed to target violent, narcotics-related robberies associated with the South Florida drug trade.

According to court records and evidence adduced at trial, defendants Crespo, Garcia-Barzaga, Torres, Serrano, Zamora, Gallego, and Garcia were arrested after a successful sting operation. On March 12, 2008, the defendants were arrested on their way to commit an armed robbery to obtain 25 to 30 kilograms of cocaine believed to have been imported into South Florida from Colombia. The defendants planned to don police uniforms and steal the cocaine from members of the drug-trafficking organization while the cocaine was being transferred from a stash house to another location. When the defendants were arrested, law enforcement recovered, among other things, from the defendants’ possession two firearms, gloves, fake police badges, and SWAT t-shirts, and handcuffs.

R. Alexander Acosta, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, stated, “This case is yet another example of the extraordinary working relationship that exists between state and federal law enforcement agencies in South Florida. The work of these agents and officers in fighting violent crime in our community is to be commended.”

ATF Special Agent in Charge Hugo Barrera stated, “ATF along with our law enforcement partners, prevented a dangerous situation from taking place, that included heavily armed individuals posing as police officers, preparing to commit a home invasion, armed robbery. Impersonating law enforcement officers undermines our criminal justice system and the safety of our communities. We are pleased that our joint task force was able to remove these criminals from society for a long time.”

Mr. Acosta thanked the investigative efforts of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Miami-Dade Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys James Koukious, Daniel Rashbaum, and Adam Schwartz.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov/ or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov/.

####

	U.S. Department of Justice United States Attorney Southern District of Florida

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 27, 2008	99 N.E. 4 Street Miami, FL 33132 (305)961-9001
NEWS RELEASE:
SEVEN CONVICTED OF ROBBERY, WEAPONS, AND DRUG-TRAFFICKING CHARGES SENTENCED TO PRISON R. Alexander Acosta, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Hugo Barrera, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and Robert Parker, Director, Miami-Dade Police Department, announced that seven defendants previously convicted of robbery, weapons, and drug-trafficking charges were sentenced by United States District Court Judge Paul C. Huck to substantial terms of imprisonment. The sentencing’s took place on August 13, 2008 and concluded today. After a three-month investigation targeting armed drug robbery crews, on March 12, 2008, a joint state and federal task force arrested defendants Freddy Crespo, Daniel Garcia-Barzaga, Jorge Torres, Armando Serrano, Raul Zamora, Pedro Gallego, and Yanko Garcia. Defendants Serrano, Zamora, Gallego, and Garcia pled guilty to charges, including conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, conspiracy to commit robbery, and possession of a firearm in the furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. Defendants Crespo, Garcia-Barzaga, and Torres proceeded to trial, and were convicted on June 4, 2008 of a total of 18 counts, which included drug-trafficking, robbery, and weapons charges. On August 13, 2008, Crespo was sentenced to 420 months’ imprisonment; Garcia-Barzaga was sentenced to 222 months’ imprisonment, Zamora was sentenced to 164 months’ imprisonment, and Gallego was sentenced to 180 months’ imprisonment. On August 21, 2008, Serrano was sentenced to 260 months’ imprisonment. On August 27, 2008, Jorge Torres was sentenced to 380 months’ imprisonment and Garcia was sentenced to 81months’ imprisonment. The investigation began when ATF learned of individuals believed to be involved in the organization of armed robberies in the South Florida area. The investigation was spearheaded by special agents with the HIDTA Street Terror Offender Program (STOP), a multi-agency task force that was especially formed to target violent, narcotics-related robberies associated with the South Florida drug trade. According to court records and evidence adduced at trial, defendants Crespo, Garcia-Barzaga, Torres, Serrano, Zamora, Gallego, and Garcia were arrested after a successful sting operation. On March 12, 2008, the defendants were arrested on their way to commit an armed robbery to obtain 25 to 30 kilograms of cocaine believed to have been imported into South Florida from Colombia. The defendants planned to don police uniforms and steal the cocaine from members of the drug-trafficking organization while the cocaine was being transferred from a stash house to another location. When the defendants were arrested, law enforcement recovered, among other things, from the defendants’ possession two firearms, gloves, fake police badges, and SWAT t-shirts, and handcuffs. R. Alexander Acosta, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, stated, “This case is yet another example of the extraordinary working relationship that exists between state and federal law enforcement agencies in South Florida. The work of these agents and officers in fighting violent crime in our community is to be commended.” ATF Special Agent in Charge Hugo Barrera stated, “ATF along with our law enforcement partners, prevented a dangerous situation from taking place, that included heavily armed individuals posing as police officers, preparing to commit a home invasion, armed robbery. Impersonating law enforcement officers undermines our criminal justice system and the safety of our communities. We are pleased that our joint task force was able to remove these criminals from society for a long time.” Mr. Acosta thanked the investigative efforts of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Miami-Dade Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys James Koukious, Daniel Rashbaum, and Adam Schwartz. A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov/ or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov/. ####