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COCAINE TRAFFICKING RING SMASHED IN PORTLAND, MAINE
Carlos Manuel Perez-Crisostomo, a 40-year-old Dominican Republic citizen, has been sentenced to 121 months in prison and four years of supervised release for conspiring to distribute cocaine and cocaine base, commonly known as "crack." Perez-Crisostomo, also known as "Nelson Calderon," pleaded guilty on November 21, 2016, and was subsequently sentenced by Judge George Z. Singal in U.S. District Court.
Court records reveal that between January and March 2016, Perez-Crisostomo distributed multi-ounce quantities of cocaine and crack from an apartment in Portland. On March 6, 2016, law enforcement agents seized approximately 468 grams of cocaine and 174 grams of crack from his apartment, bringing an end to the cocaine trafficking operation.
The defendant faced a higher guideline sentencing range because he falsely claimed to be a U.S. citizen when he entered his guilty plea under his alias "Nelson Calderon." An investigation that followed his guilty plea revealed that Perez-Crisostomo is, in fact, a citizen of the Dominican Republic and was unlawfully in the United States at the time of the offense.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), in conjunction with the Southern Maine Gang Task Force, which is comprised of agents and officers from the FBI; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the DEA; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; and the Portland, South Portland, and Lewiston Police Departments.
A total of 468 grams of cocaine and 174 grams of crack were seized from Perez-Crisostomo’s apartment, a significant blow to the cocaine trafficking operation in Portland, Maine.
The sentencing of Perez-Crisostomo marks a major victory for law enforcement in their efforts to combat cocaine trafficking in Maine. The investigation and subsequent sentencing are a testament to the dedication and hard work of the agencies involved.
Citizens of Portland, Maine, can rest a little easier knowing that a major cocaine trafficking operation has been dismantled, and the perpetrator has been brought to justice.
Key Facts
- State: Maine
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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