Press Release
COLOMBIAN DRUG TRAFFICKER EXTRADITED TO FACE FEDERAL CHARGES
June 17, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
R. Alexander Acosta, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Jonathan I. Solomon, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced today the successful extradition of defendant Eugenio Montoya Sanchez, a/k/a “Hector Fabio Carvajal,” on a twelve-count Superseding Indictment on charges of cocaine trafficking, obstruction of justice, witness retaliation by murder, and money laundering. The case will be tried before United States District Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga.
The defendant arrived in Miami, Florida, from Colombia on June 16, 2008, and this afternoon made his initial appearance in federal court in Miami before United States Magistrate Judge Patrick A. White. Judge White ordered the defendant temporarily detained until Monday, June 24, 2008, at which time the defendant will be arraigned on the charges and have a full pre-trial detention hearing.
The defendant, who is the brother of former FBI top-ten fugitive Diego Montoya Sanchez, a/k/a “Don Diego,” was arrested by Colombian authorities on January 15, 2007, following a shootout between arresting authorities and Montoya bodyguards. The defendant’s 2007 arrest was the result of a multi-year search by Colombian authorities.
Specifically, the Fifth Superseding Indictment charges the defendant with one count of conspiring to import cocaine into the United States, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 963; one count of conspiring to possess cocaine with intent to distribute, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846; one count of conspiring to launder monetary instruments, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1956(h); five counts of money laundering, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1956(a); one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371; one count of obstruction of justice by murder, in violation of Title 18,United States Code, Sections 1503 and 1111; one count of conspiracy to retaliate against one or more witnesses through murder, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1513 and 1111; and one count of witness retaliation through murder, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1513 and 1111. The Fifth Superseding Indictment additionally seeks forfeiture of assets including one billion dollars ($1,000,000,000) in United States currency.
The Fifth Superseding Indictment also charges Diego Montoya Sanchez and Omar Garcia Varela, a/k/a “Capachivo.” Diego Montoya Sanchez was captured by Colombian authorities on September 10, 2007, and is pending extradition to the United States. Prior to his apprehension, Diego Montoya Sanchez was on the FBI’s list of ten most wanted fugitives.
In 2005, the defendant’s brother, Juan Carlos Montoya Sanchez, and his cousin, Carlos Felipe Toro Sanchez, were extradited on cocaine trafficking and money laundering charges in the Third Superseding Indictment in this case. They both pled guilty to conspiring to import cocaine into the United States and were sentenced to terms of imprisonment of 21and 19 years, respectively.
Mr. Acosta commended the investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. In addition, Mr. Acosta thanked the Colombian government and all police departments involved for their cooperation and invaluable assistance in this matter. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Davis and Marcus Christian.
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 http://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.
Technical comments about this website can be e-mailed to the Webmaster. PLEASE NOTE: The United States Attorney's Office does not respond to non-technical inquiries made to this website. If you wish to make a request for information, you may contact our office at 305-961-9001, or you may send a written inquiry to the United States Attorney's Office, Southern District of Florida, 99 NE 4th Street, Miami, Fl. 33132.