Francisco C. Arias, 42, and Eder J. Cortez-Zelaya, 34, have been handed down life sentences for their roles in a massive methamphetamine (ice) trafficking ring that operated out of Guam. The duo was sentenced by Chief Judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood following convictions at the trial of U.S. v. Francisco Arias, Eder Cortez-Zelaya and Corinna Concepcion in the District Court of Guam.
Arias, an undocumented alien from Mexico, received a life sentence for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, 20 years for money laundering conspiracy, and five years each for using the mail to facilitate the distribution. All sentences were ordered to be served concurrently.
Cortez-Zelaya, a naturalized U.S. Citizen of El Salvadoran origin, was sentenced to 292 months for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, 20 years for money laundering conspiracy, and five years each for mail fraud charges related to the ring’s activities. His sentences were also concurrent.
Both men were identified as organized leaders in a conspiracy that involved transporting packages of ice from Las Vegas, Nevada, to Guam with the assistance of 15 co-defendants. All co-defendants have been sentenced.
This Operation Cold Front investigation was a joint effort by federal agents and local law enforcement from various agencies, including the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Guam Police Department (GPD), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), National Oceanic Atmosphere Administration (NOAA), and U.S. Coast Guard Criminal Investigative Service (CGIS).
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Clyde Lemons, Jr.
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Key Facts
- State: Guam
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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