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Edwin Galvez-Berganza Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Cocaine Trafficking
Greenbelt, Maryland – In a major blow to international drug trafficking, Edwin Galvez-Berganza, a 30-year-old resident of Hyattsville, Maryland, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for his role in a Guatemalan cocaine trafficking ring.
U.S. Chief District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow handed down the sentence, which also includes five years of supervised release. The guilty plea, announced by U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein, marked a significant milestone in the fight against organized crime in Maryland.
According to court documents, Galvez-Berganza was a key player in the cocaine trafficking ring, which operated from 2005 to 2009. The ring smuggled cocaine from Guatemala to the United States, where it was hidden in trailer hitches and transported to Maryland. The cocaine was then distributed to co-conspirators and others, with Galvez-Berganza responsible for the distribution of over 150 kilograms of the illicit substance.
The investigation, led by HSI Baltimore, Montgomery County Police Department, and DEA, resulted in the arrest of six defendants, who have pleaded guilty and been sentenced to up to 10 years in prison. The collaborative effort between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies was commended by U.S. Attorney Rosenstein.
In a statement, ICE Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge in Baltimore, William Winter, emphasized the importance of disrupting and dismantling international drug trafficking organizations. ‘Let there be no mistake, drug trafficking organizations are reaching right here into our homes and communities in Maryland,’ Winter said. ‘HSI remains committed to working with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to combat these criminal organizations that want to profit from poisoning our children and destroying our way of life.’
The case is a testament to the determination of law enforcement agencies to hold accountable those who engage in organized crime. As Galvez-Berganza begins his 15-year prison sentence, the community can take comfort in knowing that justice has been served.
Key Facts
- State: Maryland
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release —
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