News Releases
“OPERATION LONG WHINE” DISMANTLES LARGE DRUG WEB; CHARGES 33 DEFENDANTS, NETS 592 KILOS OF COCAINE, $8 MIL IN CASH, METH/ICE CONVERSION LAB
October 13, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
David E. Nahmias, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, and Sherri Strange, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), announce the takedown of a complex investigation code-named “Operation Long Whine.” The investigation and takedown resulted in the arrest of 28 defendants and the seizure of approximately 592 kilograms of cocaine, more than 40 pounds of methamphetamine and $8 million in currency related to a Mexican drug organization engaged in a multi-state scheme to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine to and through Metro Atlanta. According to Nahmias, the indictment, criminal complaints and search warrant affidavits filed in this case:
The following 22 defendants were charged in the indictment, which was returned by a federal grand jury on October 11, 2005: FNU LNU (first name unknown and last name unknown) a/k/a “GOTTI;” FNU LNU, a/k/a “JAIME;” FNU LNU, a/k/a “LICENCIADO” and “GORDO;” LUIS ANTONIO RAMIREZ CARDENAS, a/k/a “TONO” and “GORDITO;” FNU LNU, a/k/a “SERGIO 1” and “ENGINERO;” FNU LNU, a/k/a, “SERGIO 2" and “EL SOBRINO;” FNU LNU, a/k/a “WILLY;” FNU LNU, a/k/a “SOPE;” YOLANDA BOJORQUEZ, a/k/a/ “YOLI;” MARCO AURELIO DELEON, a/k/a “GORDITO;” HECTOR MANUEL VILLAFORTE BARRIENTOS; EDGAR DELACRUZ CASWED; KEVIN ROBINSON; FNU LNU, a/k/a “ANDY;” FNU LNU, a/k/a “CHILE;” JUAN ARTURO NAMUR-MONTALVO, a/k/a "CAULIFLOWER;" FERNANDO ROSALES BONILLA; FNU LNU, a/k/a CHEJO; FNU LNU, a/k/a “JOSE ALFREDO;” BRYANT RODRIGUEZ; ANA MARIE ORREGO; and KEVIN FRANKLIN. 11 additional defendants were charged in a criminal complaints filed on October 12 and 13. 28 of the defendants were arrested or were in custody on other charges. Five of the indicted defendants are now considered fugitives. The indictment and complaints charge the defendants with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine and with possession with intent to distribute cocaine and/or methamphetamine on various specific dates.
At a news conference this afternoon at DEA headquarters in Atlanta, federal officials displayed part of an estimated 592 kilos of cocaine seized as part of Operation Long Whine, which also netted approximately two pounds of “ice” (crystal methamphetamine) converted from methamphetamine, and the lab which had been used to convert it. The lab was located at 4886 Kelly’s Mill Dr., in Lilburn, Georgia, one of a number of locations targeted in the investigation. Over one million dollars and multiple weapons have been recovered in the Atlanta area within the past 2 days as part of Operation Long Whine. At approximately $20,000 per kilogram, the wholesale value of the cocaine seized in the case is approximately $12 million.
According to the indictment and information contained in the search warrant affidavits, since April 2005, the DEA has been investigating a Mexican drug trafficking organization that imports large quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine into the United States for further distribution in the Atlanta area, as well as to Florida and the Mid-Atlantic and Mid-Western states.
The investigation identified defendant “GOTTI” as the leader of a Metro Atlanta-based cell of this drug trafficking organization, responsible for managing the distribution of drugs and the collection of drug proceeds. GOTTI allegedly coordinated the receipt and distribution of drugs from Mexico to Atlanta. GOTTI also coordinated the collection and shipment of drug proceeds from cities along the East Coast to Atlanta, and then back to Mexico. The organization is alleged to have transported more than 100 kilograms of cocaine per week, often using smaller shipments in order to minimize the impact of law enforcement seizures. The operations utilized car carriers hauling vehicles with false compartments filled with drugs, and at least in one instance, used a tractor trailer hauling pork shoulders and other livestock portions to conceal large quantities of cash.
Prior to the execution of federal search and arrest warrants on October 12, 2005, the investigation had resulted in the seizure of about 282 kilograms of cocaine, over 40 pounds of methamphetamine, and over $6 million in drug proceeds.
Beginning yesterday morning, over 200 federal, state and local law enforcement agents executed search warrants at the following 16 separate locations: 560 Thornbush Trace, Lawrenceville; 571 Thornbush Trace, Lawrenceville; 790 Jackson Bank Place, Norcross; a business Known as “The Complete Auto Center,” 1855 Buford Highway, Duluth; 2565 Davenport Road, Duluth; 2555 Davenport Road, Duluth; 5574 Tina Court, Duluth; 2577 Cindy Court, Duluth; 1234 Luther Way, Lawrenceville; 4886 Kelly’s Mill Drive, Lilburn; 2580 North Berkeley Lake Road, Paces Commons Apartments, #735, Duluth; 10725 Jones Bridge Road, Alpharetta; 3230 St. James Place, Lawrenceville; 824 Rebecca St., Lawrenceville; 3481 Lakeside Drive, Unit #706, Atlanta; and 1902 Riverview Drive, Marietta.
United States Attorney David Nahmias said of the case: “This case illustrates the recent trend in drug trafficking by major international cartels. Metro Atlanta has become a major distribution hub for Mexican drug organizations, which smuggle huge amounts of cocaine and methamphetamine across the Southwest Border and then transport the drugs to Atlanta, where the shipments are divided up, with some to be sold in Georgia and the Southeast, but much to be transported on to Florida, the Mid-West, and the Mid-Atlantic states. Huge amounts of drug proceeds flow back through Atlanta to Mexico.“
”Through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program, federal law enforcement has focused increased attention and resources in the Metro Atlanta area, recognizing that investigations like Operation Long Whine can have a major impact on the drug trade, not just in Georgia, but throughout the nation. These complex OCDETF investigations use powerful investigative tools like confidential sources, undercover agents, and court-authorized wiretaps, and seek out the financial proceeds of drug transactions, allowing us to disrupt and dismantle entire organizations by taking out their leaders and organizers and depriving them of their dirty proceeds.”
“Part of this effort to attack the largest international drug trafficking organizations as they move into Georgia is the development of the David G. Wilhelm OCDETF Strike Force. The Strike Force, which is named after ICE Assistant Special Agent In Charge David Wilhelm, who was murdered on March 11, 2005, will include dozens of experienced agents from the ATF, DEA, FBI, ICE, IRS, and the US Marshal's Service, local officers, and prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, who will be co-located to maximize focus and information sharing. This case is one of the first worked by the DEA’s Strike Force Group, and we hope that its success demonstrates what the Strike Force can achieve in making our community and our Nation safer from the poison of illegal drugs.”
DEA Special Agent In Charge Sherri Strange said of Operation Long Whine, “This is a great day for justice. This organization was one of the biggest drug trafficking organizations operating in the Atlanta area. Today it is over and the organization has been dismantled, eliminating millions of dollars of cocaine and methamphetamine/ice from being distributed in our area and across the country. At the same time, we have denied millions of dollars from being sent back to Mexico to produce more poison intended for sale in the United States. Today DEA and its law enforcement partners have said to this organization, enough, you are finished, not in our town.”
Special Agents of the DEA are leading the investigation in Operation Long Whine. Other law enforcement agencies participating in the investigation and takedown include the FBI, the ATF, the Fayette County Sheriff's Office, the Georgia State Patrol, the Gwinnett County Police Department, the Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office, the DeKalb County Police Department, the Fulton County Police Department, the Marietta-Cobb-Smyrna Drug Task Force, Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles, Georgia Department of Corrections, and the Norcross Police Department.
Members of the public are reminded that the indictment contains only allegations. A defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government's burden to prove a defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
Assistant United States Attorneys Richard A. Rice, Jr., and J. Gabriel Banks are prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact David E. Nahmias, United States Attorney, or William H. Thomas, Jr., Chief, Narcotics and OCDETF, through Patrick Crosby, Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Attorney's Office, at (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the HomePage for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia is www.usdoj.gov/usao/gan.