Rochester, NY – A federal jury has handed down a guilty verdict against Raul Eduardo Rivera de la Torre, 25, of Tucson, Arizona, for his role in a large-scale marijuana trafficking operation.
According to U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr., the conspiracy began in March 2007 and continued through April 2010. Over this period, members of the organization shipped hundreds of pounds of marijuana from Tucson to various locations in the Northeast, including Rochester, Port Chester, NY, Philadelphia, PA, and Cleveland, OH.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Moynihan, who led the prosecution, stated that de la Torre, who is from Mexico, was responsible for translating between the suppliers and the members of the conspiracy purchasing the marijuana. He would often assist in the communication between the Spanish-speaking suppliers and the English-speaking members of the organization.
At trial, two Government witnesses detailed their involvement in the conspiracy. The first witness explained how he would purchase marijuana from the Mexican supplier and rely on de la Torre’s translations to facilitate the transactions.
Another witness testified that he was responsible for receiving the shipments of marijuana in Rochester and distributing the drug to its intended recipients.
The conviction is the result of an investigation conducted by Special Agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration under the direction of James J. Hunt, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New York Division.
De la Torre faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 40 years, a fine of $2,000,000 or both.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 3, 2014, at 3:00 PM before Judge Frank P. Geraci.
The investigation and prosecution of this case serves as a reminder of the ongoing threat posed by large-scale marijuana trafficking operations in the Northeast.
At Grimy Times, we will continue to provide in-depth coverage of the complex issues surrounding the war on drugs and its impact on our communities.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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