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Department of Justice United States Attorney David L. Huber Contact: Sandy Focken |
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August 14, 2008
FINAL DEFENDANT IN MEXICAN DRUG CONSPIRACY CASE PLEADS GUILTY
– Eleven co-defendants sentenced to over 85 years
– Illegal Mexican
– $25,000 seized
Levi Mendivil Vega a/k/a “Javier” a/k/a “Emmanuel Perez Ramos”, age 23, illegally in the United States and subject to deportation, pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams (approximately one pound) or more of methamphetamine. Vega is the last of twelve defendants to plead guilty in a case in which approximately $400,000 worth of methamphetamine was seized U.S. Attorney David L. Huber of the Western District of Kentucky announced today. Vega is currently serving a separate federal prison term of 188 months for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine in the District of Arizona, Phoenix Division. The plea was entered before United States District Judge, Thomas B. Russell, United States District Court, Paducah, Kentucky. Vega faces a minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, a fine of $4 million, and at least 5 years up to life of supervised release following incarceration. There is no parole in the federal judicial system.
US Attorney David L. Huber praised the work of the Kentucky State Police, the McCracken County Sheriff’s Office and the Ballard County Sheriff’s Department for their efforts. He noted that these three Kentucky law enforcement agencies combined with the DEA and Arizona authorities “have made a difference in our communities.”
Facts
Investigation revealed that in or around the Spring of 2004, Defendant Vega, who was living in Arizona at that time, began supplying co-defendant Gregory Scott Hayden with methamphetamine. The amounts of methamphetamine Hayden received from Vega began as ounces but eventually escalated into pound quantities. Defendant Vega would either bring the methamphetamine to Hayden in Western Kentucky or Hayden would travel to Arizona to pick up the methamphetamine. When Defendant Vega brought the methamphetamine to Kentucky, he would stay at a trailer Hayden had rented in Kevil, Kentucky. Hayden would then sell the methamphetamine to individuals in Western Kentucky and Southern Illinois including co-defendants John Clark and Harold Owens.
In January, 2005, co-defendant Scott Hayden traveled to Arizona via commercial airline for the purpose of obtaining methamphetamine from Defendant Vega. The plan was that Hayden would rent a car once he arrived in Arizona, the methamphetamine would be hidden in the fender well of the car, and then Hayden would drive the rental car back to Paducah, Kentucky. For that particular trip, Defendant Vega asked co-defendant Genaro Diaz, a/k/a "Luis" to travel to Paducah, Kentucky from Arizona with Hayden for the purposes of ensuring that the approximately 9 pounds of methamphetamine hidden inside the car arrived safely. Co-defendant Diaz agreed and traveled to Paducah, Kentucky with Scott Hayden. After they arrived in Paducah, Diaz unloaded the methamphetamine from the car at co-defendant Kelly Graves' home in Kevil, Kentucky. Diaz gave the methamphetamine to Hayden who took it inside and stored it at Graves' house. Diaz then called co-defendant Harold Owens and traveled with Hayden to deliver some of the methamphetamine to Owens. A few days later, Diaz returned to Arizona.
In February, 2005, Hayden again traveled to Arizona, this time for the purpose of paying money for the methamphetamine he had previously obtained. Diaz met with Hayden and co-defendant Kelly Graves at a Motel 6 in Mesa, Arizona wherein Hayden paid Diaz approximately $80,000.00 for the methamphetamine that had been sent to Kentucky. Co-defendant Diaz then delivered the money to Defendant Levi Mendivil Vega.
Also, in February, 2005, co-defendants Hayden and Clark traveled to Arizona and purchased approximately 7 pounds of methamphetamine. Hayden was arrested by officers on March 17, 2005 and approximately 4 pounds of methamphetamine and $13,000 in cash (drug proceeds) were seized at that time. The 1998 Expedition listed in the forfeiture count was a “perk” Hayden had received from Defendant Vega.
In May, 2005, co-defendant Owens made arrangements with Defendant Vega to have 5 pounds of methamphetamine delivered to him in Southern Illinois at a price of $17,500 per pound. Defendant Vega hired co-defendants Eric Garcia Camara, Oscar Perez Bustamante and Abel Hernandez to travel from Arizona to Paducah, Kentucky for the purpose of delivering the methamphetamine to Owens. The plan was for co-defendants Garcia Camara and Perez Bustamante to meet co-defendant Hernandez in Paducah, Kentucky. As part of the plan, Hernandez traveled separately from Arizona to Paducah, Kentucky and drove the Oldsmobile containing the approximately 5 pounds of methamphetamine hidden in the dashboard. After arriving in Paducah on or about May 15, 2005, Garcia Camara and Perez Bustamante eventually met Hernandez at a local motel wherein they took control of the Oldsmobile containing the methamphetamine. Co-defendants Garcia Camara and Perez Bustamante then drove the car to Harold Owens’ residence in Illinois and delivered the methamphetamine to Owens. On May 17, 2005, police executed search warrants, retrieved the methamphetamine and arrested Owens, Camara, Bustamante and Hernandez.
Approximately $25,000 in cash that constituted drug proceeds and 3 vehicles used to transport drugs were also seized for forfeiture purposes.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michele Thielhorn.
The investigation was a joint effort of several law enforcement agencies including the Drug Enforcement Administration from Kentucky, Illinois and Arizona, the Kentucky State Police, the Illinois State Police, the McCracken County Sheriff’s Office, the Ballard County Sheriff’s Department and the Mesa, Arizona Police Department.
The other eleven co-defendants have all previously entered guilty pleas and received the following sentences: Gregory Scott Hayden was sentenced to 9 years imprisonment, plus 5 years supervised release following incarceration; John Lee Clark was sentenced to 11 years and 3 months imprisonment, plus 5 years supervised release following incarceration; William Scott Hicks was sentenced to 7 years and 3 months imprisonment, plus 5 years supervised release following incarceration; Karen Sue Darnell was sentenced to 8 years and 4 months imprisonment, plus 5 years supervised release following incarceration; Oscar Perez Bustamante was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment, plus 4 years supervised release following incarceration; Harold Owens was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment, plus 5 years supervised release, Eric Garcia-Camara was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment, plus 4 years supervised release following incarceration, Don Kelly Graves was sentenced to 9 years and 2 months imprisonment, plus 5 years supervised release, Abel Hernandez was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment, plus 4 years supervised release following incarceration, Genaro Vega Diaz was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment, plus 5 years supervised release following incarceration; and co-defendant Tim Brown was sentenced to 5 years and 3 months, plus 4 years supervised release following incarceration.
Vega is scheduled to be sentenced before Judge Russell on October 9, 2008 at 11:30 a.m. in Paducah, Kentucky.
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