DC Fentanyl & Coke Ring: Sentencings Handed Down

WASHINGTON D.C. – Two men involved in a large-scale drug trafficking operation flooding the nation’s capital with fentanyl and cocaine have received federal prison sentences, authorities announced this week. Erik Rivera Garcia, 29, of Mexico, and Vladimir Roque Ceron, 33, of El Salvador, were sentenced following a multi-defendant indictment returned September 1, 2023. The case highlights the relentless flow of deadly narcotics into D.C. and the ongoing struggle to dismantle the criminal networks responsible.

Rivera Garcia was sentenced Wednesday to 62 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge John D. Bates after pleading guilty on March 13, 2024, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. He will also serve four years of supervised release after his incarceration. Court documents reveal Rivera Garcia wasn’t just moving product; he acted as armed “protection” for the conspiracy, operating in the D.C. region from at least March 2023 to August 8, 2023.

The investigation uncovered that Rivera Garcia provided security for significant cocaine transactions. On August 8, 2023, he guarded a deal involving approximately 515 grams of the drug. Just over a week later, on August 18, 2023, Rivera Garcia and co-conspirators were arrested while attempting another transaction. A search yielded a staggering 3.6 kilograms of cocaine and a loaded .38 caliber revolver where Rivera Garcia was seated. Another member of the group was found with a privately manufactured Polymer 80 pistol, loaded with 22 rounds of 9mm ammunition.

Vladimir Roque Ceron, meanwhile, faced a lighter sentence, receiving 14 months in prison and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty on March 5, 2024, to conspiracy to distribute a mixture and substance containing fentanyl and cocaine. Ceron wasn’t guarding the product; he was directly selling it. From March 22, 2023, to June 1, 2023, he sold a total of 197 grams of cocaine and 111 fentanyl pills – with each pill containing a potentially lethal dose of over 2 mg of fentanyl – to confidential sources over five separate occasions. DEA lab analysis confirmed the presence of both drugs.

Both Rivera Garcia and Roque Ceron were unlawfully present in the United States at the time of the offenses, adding another layer of complexity to the case. U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves emphasized the seriousness of the crimes and the commitment to dismantling these networks. The operation was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) initiative, leveraging resources from the FBI, DEA, Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Metropolitan Police Department.

The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy J. Coley and Ernesto J. Alvarado of the Violence Reduction and Trafficking Offenses section. The investigation serves as a stark reminder of the constant battle against the influx of dangerous drugs into the District, and the collaborative effort required to bring those responsible to justice. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on further developments within the OCDETF operation.

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