Date: August 29, 2012
Contact: Public Information Officer
Number: 214-366-6900
Joint Operation Targeting Two Methamphetamine Rings
Results in 21 Convictions and a Collective Prison Sentence of Over 128 Years
AUG 29 ( OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. ) - 
As the result of an investigation into the narcotics trafficking activities of a Mexican national drug trafficking organization operating in Oklahoma City, a total of 21 individuals have now been convicted and sentenced to a collective total of 1,543 months in prison, announced Sanford C. Coats, United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma. Twenty of these defendants were convicted in federal court and sentenced to a combined total of 1,447 months in federal prison. Another defendant was convicted in state court and sentenced to 96 months in state prison.
"The cases from this investigation demonstrate the commitment of law enforcement to dismantling transnational criminal organizations involved in the transportation and distribution of illicit narcotics," said U.S. Attorney Sanford C. Coats.
"This case is yet another example of how the Multi-Agency Task Force concept, using the combined resources and intelligence from local, state, and federal Oklahoma law enforcement agencies, is the most effective and efficient way to dismantle organized drug trafficking groups," said Richard W. Salter Jr., Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the DEA's Oklahoma City District Office. "The good citizens of Oklahoma deserve and should expect nothing less than this type of service from their public safety agencies."
"The successful prosecution of this complex investigation represents a cooperative effort among multiple law enforcement agencies working thousands of man-hours," said James Delia, Resident Agent in Charge, HSI Oklahoma City. "We dismantled a drug-smuggling organization and reduced a significant threat to public safety, which is our ultimate goal."
In June of 2011, approximately 100 city, county, and federal law enforcement officers executed multiple federal arrest and search warrants, resulting in charges against multiple defendants in two separate complaints alleging two conspiracies to possess and distribute methamphetamine. This joint operation was a multi-agency task force investigation into a Mexican national drug trafficking organization operating in the Oklahoma City area.
This investigation was conducted through the joint efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), the Oklahoma City Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, United States Marshals Service, IRS Criminal Investigation and the DEA Task Force (which consists of officers from Oklahoma City Police Department, Yukon Police Department, Edmond Police Department, Norman Police Department, Canadian County Sheriff's Office, the Oklahoma County District Attorney's Office, and the District 21 [Cleveland County] Drug Task Force) .
As detailed in court records, the investigation included physical surveillance, arrests, seizures, and electronic surveillance, among other investigative techniques. The investigation culminated in the filing of two related, but separate indictments that were filed in federal court. For specific further information, reference is made to court records.
In sum, a total of 21 defendants were prosecuted and convicted in federal and state court. The following is a list of the 20 defendants convicted in federal court and the sentence they received: