Carlos I. Arce-López, Drug Trafficking, Puerto Rico 2015

A Puerto Rican man has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for his involvement in a large-scale drug trafficking organization that operated at the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport.

Carlos I. Arce-López, also known as ‘Ferretero,’ was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Francisco A. Besosa. Arce-López had previously pled guilty to three counts from two separate indictments, charging conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and money laundering in relation to a drug trafficking crime.

The indictment, Criminal Case 13-148(FAB), stated that Arce-López participated in a conspiracy in which $800,000 of illegal proceeds were going to be used to purchase over 150 kilos of cocaine in the Dominican Republic to import into Puerto Rico. The defendant’s role was to provide the money and to coordinate with other co-conspirators the importation of multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine from the Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico.

Additionally, Arce-López also traveled to the Dominican Republic from Puerto Rico to meet with other co-conspirators to plan and coordinate the transportation of multi-kilogram loads of cocaine by boat.

The cases were investigated by the DEA, the PRPD, and the FBI, with the collaboration of the San Juan Municipal Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Olga Castellón-Miranda.

Arce-López’s involvement in the drug trafficking organization was part of a larger scheme that involved over 9,000 kilograms of cocaine, which was smuggled aboard American Airlines commercial flights. At times pertinent to this indictment, convicted felon Wilfredo Rodríguez-Rosado, aka ‘Mogoyo,’ recruited and organized a group of individuals to package, transport and deliver suitcases loaded with kilograms of cocaine to the American Airlines cargo area at the Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport.

The defendant’s real full name, exact criminal charges, city and state, EXACT DATE with month/day/year, and sentence or outcome are as follows:

Defendant: Carlos I. Arce-López

Criminal Charges: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and money laundering in relation to a drug trafficking crime

City and State: SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico

EXACT DATE: April 23, 2015 (plea date)

Sentence or Outcome: 14 years in prison

Additional Information: Arce-López also participated in a conspiracy to purchase over 150 kilos of cocaine in the Dominican Republic to import into Puerto Rico.

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