FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 18, 2003

Michael Gamboa Gets Life in Prison for
Leading the Largest Drug Trafficking Conspiracy Ever
Brought to Justice in North Dakota

Fargo - United States Attorney Drew H. Wrigley announces that on April 16, 2003, Michael Gerald Gamboa, Rolando Gamboa, and Edward Gamboa were sentenced before United States District Court Judge Rodney S. Webb on drug trafficking and weapons charges. James Nicholas Borkowski and Delwin Jo Whitelightning were sentenced today before United States District Court Judge Rodney S. Webb. Cassidy Kyle Stich will be sentenced on April 30, 2003.

Michael Gamboa, 27, was found guilty on January 9, 2003, of seven drug trafficking and weapons charges after an eight-day jury trial before Judge Webb.

Michael Gamboa and his organization moved from 300-500 pounds of methamphetamine into North Dakota. Street value at current gram prices would total approximately $18 million.

Michael Gamboa was found guilty of (count one) conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; (count two) possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; (count three) simple possession of cocaine; (count four) possession of firearms during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime; (count five) possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; (count six) possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon; and (count seven) possession of firearms and ammunition by a fugitive from justice. He was ordered to forfeit more than $20,000 in cash and jewelry.

Judge Webb sentenced Michael Gamboa to life imprisonment on counts one and two, a consecutive 30 year sentence on count four, and a consecutive life imprisonment sentence on count five. Michael Gamboa was ordered to pay a $700 special assessment to the Crime Victim's Fund.

Michael Gamboa's brothers, Edward and Rolando Gamboa, both pleaded guilty on January 21, 2003, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine. Edward Gamboa, 31 agreed to forfeit any rights to $9,915 in United States currency and 15 pieces of jewelry seized on May 29, 2002, from 2705 5th Avenue South, Fargo, ND.

Rolando Gamboa, 38, also pleaded guilty to a charge of felon in possession of firearms.

Judge Webb sentenced Edward Gamboa to 57 months imprisonment to be followed by 5 years of supervised release. Edward Gamboa was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Crime Victim's Fund.

Judge Webb sentenced Rolando Gamboa to 180 months imprisonment to be followed by 5 years of supervised release. Rolando Gamboa was ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Crime Victim's Fund.

Borkowski, 26, pleaded guilty on December 30, 2002, to: conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession of firearms during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime and possession of firearms by a convicted felon.

Judge Webb sentenced Borkowski to 147 months imprisonment to be followed by 5 years of supervised release. Borkowski was also ordered to pay a $300 special assessment to the Crime Victim's Fund.

Whitelightning, 30, pleaded guilty on December 30, 2002, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Judge Webb sentenced Whitelightning to 146 months imprisonment to be followed by 5 years of supervised release. Whitelightning was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Crime Victim's Fund.

The incidents occurred from January of 2000 through July of 2002 in the District of North Dakota.

The case was investigated by the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation; the Grand Forks Narcotics Task Force, the Grand Forks Police Department; the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Polk County Sheriff's Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration Task force, which includes agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service, Cass County Sheriff's Department, Clay County Sheriff's Department, Fargo and Moorhead Police Departments; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); the Burleigh County Sheriff's Department; and the Bismarck Police Department.

Assistant United States Attorney Keith Reisenauer prosecuted the case.

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