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The subcommittee on Clan del Golfo will be led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Emery of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida. AUSA Emery has secured convictions against the top leadership of Clan del Golfo, including kingpin Henry de Jesus Lopez Londoño, who commanded over 1,000 armed men for the cartel.
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/attorney-general-sessions-announces-new-measures-fight-transnational-organized-crime
>subcommittee on Clan del Golfo will be led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Emery of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida
U.S. Attorney’s Office
Southern District of Florida
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, March 17, 2020
Leaders of Colombia’s “Clan Rincon” Sentenced to Prison Terms for Roles in International Drug Trafficking Conspiracy
Today, a federal judge in Ft. Lauderdale sentenced two brothers whose family owns one of the largest emerald mines in Boyacá, Colombia to prison terms for conspiring with Boyacá’s cocaine producers, leading to thousands of kilograms of Colombian cocaine entering the United States.
United States District Judge Rodney Smith sentenced the leader of the “Clan Rincon,”53- year-old Colombian national Pedro Nel Rincon-Castillo, to 235 month in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. The judge sentenced the leader’s brother, Omar Rincon-Castillo, 50, of Colombia, to 210 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. On January 6, 2020, both defendants pled guilty to conspiring to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine, knowing that the cocaine was heading for the United States.
According to court documents, two major exports of Boyacá, Colombia are emeralds and cocaine. Most of the world’s emeralds come from Boyacá and the region is rife with coca farms that yield cocaine base and laboratories that manufacture cocaine for export.
Pedro and Omar are part of the Rincon-Castillo family, known as Clan Rincon. The family owns emerald mines in Boyacá, Colombia. Clan Rincon is powerful and has significant influence in the region.
In the early 2000s, communist guerilla members of FARC were making their way into Boyacá. They demanded that cocoa farmers, owners of drug laboratories, and owners of emerald mines pay “taxes” to FARC. To stop FARC from taxing the family’s emerald mines, Pedro the leader of Clan Rincon arranged intervention from the Defense Forces of Colombia (known by its Spanish acronym, AUC). AUC, which is a right-wing paramilitary and drug trafficking group that is enemy to FARC, arrived in Boyacá and kept FARC out of the region.
AUC wanted compensation for its services. In exchange for continuing to keep Boyacá free of FARC, AUC sought to tax the emerald mine owners. Clan Rincon offered another idea. Clan Rincon, through Pedro, Omar, and others, proposed that AUC tax the area’s cocoa farmers and owners of the cocaine drug laboratories, instead of the mine owners. They reached a deal.
With Clan Rincon’s assistance and approval, cocoa farmers and owners of drug laboratories paid a fee for AUC’s protection. This protection deal, which Clan Rincon orchestrated and approved, allowed the cocoa farmers and drug laboratory owners to continue their criminal activities, leading to the export of thousands of kilograms of cocaine from Colombia for eventual entry into the United States.
On November 15, 2019, the judge sentenced co-defendant Jose Rogelio Nieto Molina, 46, of Colombia, to 168 months in prison, for his role in the conspiracy. The sentencing of co-defendant Horacio Triana is set for April 28th. The sentencing of co-defendant Gilberto Rincon is set for May 4th.
Ariana Fajardo Orshan, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida and Kevin W. Carter, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Miami Field Division, made the announcement. U.S. Attorney Fajardo Orshan commended the investigative efforts of the DEA Miami Field Division, DEA Bogota Country Office, the Government of Colombia, the Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs, the Office of the Judicial Attaché in Colombia, and the U.S. State Department for their assistance in this matter.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Emery, Andrea Goldbarg, and Michael B. Nadler are prosecuting this case.
The prosecution was part of Operation Money Badger, which is a result of the ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”), a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The OCDETF mission is to identify, investigate, and prosecute high-level members of drug trafficking enterprises, bringing together the combined expertise and unique abilities of federal, state and local law enforcement.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
>The subcommittee on Clan del Golfo will be led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Emery of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney’s Office
Southern District of Florida
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, July 12, 2019
U.S. Extradites Former Colombian Minister of Agriculture Convicted of Embezzlement and Illegal Government Contracting
The United States today extradited Andres Felipe Arias Leiva, who served as Colombia’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development from 2005 to 2009, to face a prison sentence in that country based on a 2014 conviction by the Supreme Court of Colombia for two offenses committed while Arias served in public office.
U.S. Attorney Ariana Fajardo Orshan of the Southern District of Florida and Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Criminal Division made the announcement.
“Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the Southern District of Florida, alongside attorneys for the Department’s Office of International Affairs, have worked hard to ensure that former Colombian government official Andres Arias would be extradited back to his home country to serve a sentence imposed by that nation’s highest court,” said U.S. Attorney Fajardo Orshan. “We are grateful to the dedication of Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Emery and Associate Director Christopher J. Smith and Trial Attorney Rebecca A. Haciski of the Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs of the U.S. Department of Justice for their work in making this possible. Our Office is committed to upholding the rule of law and ensuring that justice is appropriately carried out for all parties.”
“Andres Arias’s extradition is a testament to the United States’ commitment to our extradition treaty obligations and the strength of our law enforcement partnership with Colombia,” said Assistant Attorney General Benczkowski. “I thank the team from the Office of International Affairs and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida for their tireless, years-long efforts to ensure that Arias serves his prison sentence in Colombia.”
Arias, a citizen of Colombia who entered the United States in 2014 and was residing in Weston, Florida, was convicted on July 16, 2014, by the Criminal Cassation Division of the Supreme Court of Colombia on two offenses, Embezzlement for Third Parties, in violation of Article 397 of the Colombian Criminal Code, and Conclusion of Contract Without Fulfilling Legal Requirements, in violation of Article 410 of the same code. Arias was present and represented by counsel at his trial in Colombia, and following his conviction, the Colombian court sentenced him to serve 209 months in prison. As detailed in the 193-page decision issued by the Supreme Court of Colombia, Arias’s criminal conduct related to the diversion of funds within the Colombian government’s Argo Ingreso Seguro program, which he was responsible for implementing during his term as Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, a cabinet-level position in Colombia’s executive branch, from 2005 to 2009.
The United States acted on a request for Arias’s extradition submitted by the Republic of Colombia, which Arias vigorously contested in both the Southern District of Florida and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. On Sept. 28, 2017, a U.S. magistrate judge in the Southern District of Florida ruled that Arias could be extradited to Colombia to serve the sentence based on his conviction. Arias then filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus, which the district court for the Southern District of Florida denied on Oct. 5, 2018. Arias appealed that decision to the Eleventh Circuit. Following extensive briefing and argument, the litigation culminated on July 8, 2019, when the court of appeals rejected Arias’s arguments against extradition. Consistent with the views of the U.S. Department of State and 40 years of extradition practice between the United States and Colombia, the court of appeals affirmed that the extradition treaty between the two countries remains in full force and effect.
Following a thorough review of Arias’s case, the Department of State issued a warrant ordering Arias’s surrender to Colombian authorities. Today, the U.S. Marshals Service executed that warrant, transported Arias to Colombia, and delivered him to the custody of Colombian authorities. Arias’s extradition is now complete.
The extradition proceedings and subsequent appellate litigation were handled by Associate Director Christopher J. Smith and Trial Attorney Rebecca A. Haciski of the Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert J. Emery and Emily M. Smachetti of the Southern District of Florida with the support of myriad attorneys and international affairs specialists in the Office of International Affairs of the Department’s Criminal Division
>The subcommittee on Clan del Golfo will be led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Emery of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney’s Office
Southern District of Florida
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, June 19, 2018
Colombian Drug Kingpin Sentenced to 31 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking
Colombian drug kingpin Henry de Jesus Lopez Londoño was sentenced yesterday to 31 years in prison for importing multi-ton quantities of cocaine into the United States.
Benjamin G. Greenberg, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Adolphus P. Wright, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Miami Field Division, made the announcement.
A Miami jury had found Henry de Jesus Lopez Londoño, a/k/a “Mi Sangre,” 47, a citizen of Colombia, guilty of conspiring to distribute over five kilograms of cocaine with the knowledge that it would be unlawfully imported into the United States, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 959 and 963. United States Senior District Judge Donald L. Graham sentenced the defendant to 372 months in prison, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release.
The evidence presented at the six week trial, which included the testimony of special agents from DEA, Homeland Security Investigations, the Internal Revenue Service, Argentinean National Police, and multiple co-conspirators, showed that the defendant in Colombia was a leader of the Urabeños, one of the largest and most dangerous drug cartels in the world. As a leader, the defendant was part of a drug distribution chain spanning from Colombia to Central America, Mexico, and the United States. The evidence at trial showed that as part of this conspiracy, the defendant was responsible for trafficking over 60,000 kilograms of cocaine. The evidence at trial also revealed that at one point, Lopez Londoño attempted to cooperate with U.S. law enforcement. However, when it was discovered that the defendant was lying and committing acts of violence, he became a target of investigation. That trial evidence further showed that Lopez Londoño had engaged in unauthorized drug trafficking activities while attempting to cooperate.
The prosecution was part of Operation Golden Eagle, which is a result of the ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”), a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The OCDETF mission is to identify, investigate, and prosecute high-level members of drug trafficking enterprises, bringing together the combined expertise and unique abilities of federal, state and local law enforcement.
Mr. Greenberg commend the DEA Miami Field Division, DEA Bogota Country Office, DEA Buenos Aires Country Office, the Governments of Colombia and Argentina, the Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs, the Office of the Judicial Attaché in Colombia, and the U.S. State Department for their assistance in this matter. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert J. Emery and Michael B. Nadler.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
>The subcommittee on Clan del Golfo will be led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Emery of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney’s Office
Southern District of Florida
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, February 19, 2015
Operation Southern Wave Targets Florida Identity Theft, Fraud
The State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service (DS) Miami Field Office, working with multiple federal, state, and local enforcement authorities, has apprehended 26 men and women sought as suspects of identity theft, as well as passport and visa fraud.
Operation Southern Wave, a Florida statewide law enforcement operation stretching from Jacksonville to Miami, was conducted from February 3 to 18.
“The apprehension of fugitives and suspects delivers a clear message that federal, state, and local law enforcement authorities will find and bring to justice any individuals who attempt to defraud the U.S. government,” said Wendy A. Bashnan, Special Agent in Charge of the DS Miami Field Office.
“If you engage in passport or visa fraud or engage in other forms of identity theft, sooner or later we will track you down.”
Operation Southern Wave generated a total of 18 new complaints and indictments for individuals suspected of passport and/or visa fraud.
17 individuals were charged in the Southern District of Florida for making false statements in application for a passport. Another 9 individuals were charged in the Middle District of Florida for making false statements in application for a passport.
If convicted, individuals charged with falsifying a passport application will face a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment, and up to a $250,000 fine.
Approximately 150 federal, state, and local law enforcement officers were among those involved in support of Operation Southern Wave.
“The Florida Highway Patrol is committed to collaborating with federal, state, and local law enforcement to identify, arrest and pursue prosecution of those who commit identity theft crimes in Florida,” said Colonel David Brierton, director of the Florida Highway Patrol. “Operation Southern Wave’s success is a testament to that commitment.”
The DS Miami Field Office has responsibility for eight southern states. It brought in personnel from its entire region to assist in Operation Southern Wave.
DS partnered with the U.S. Attorney’s Offices from the Southern and Middle Districts of Florida, along with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Enforcement and Removal Operations; DHS Homeland Security Investigations; U.S. Marshals Service; Florida Highway Patrol; Miami-Dade Police Department; and several other local law enforcement offices.
Mr. Ferrer commended DS for leading this operation, and thanked all participating agencies for their investigative efforts and assistance. The cases in this District are being prosecuted by Cary Aranovitz, Daniel Cervantes, Robert Emery, Matthew Langley, Daya Nathan, Jonathan Osborne, Kevin Quencer, and Adam Weisholtz.
A complaint/indictment is a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law. All defendants are presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
U.S. Attorney’s Office
Southern District of Indiana
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, April 30, 2021
Indy Man Sentenced to 27 Years for Drug Dealing and Money Laundering
INDIANAPOLIS - An Indianapolis man was sentenced to 27 years for dealing methamphetamine and heroin, and an additional 20 years for money laundering. The sentences will run concurrently.
According to court documents, in late November 2018, George West, 36, of Indianapolis was traveling on I-70 in Hancock County. West had committed several traffic violations and a deputy with the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office initiated a traffic stop. West provided the deputy false identification and became combative with the deputy. West ran from the deputy and ended up back at the car he was driving. West attempted to drive from the scene and in doing so struck the deputy with the car. The deputies were able to stop West, but he continued to struggle with the deputies and at one point tried to unholster the deputy’s gun.
A K9 officer was at the scene and his K9 partner alerted that Wests vehicle may contain an illegal substance. During a subsequent search of the vehicle, deputies found approximately three pounds of methamphetamine. West admitted to possessing the drugs and said he had more at his apartment. During the execution of a search warrant of West’s apartment, officers found four loaded firearms, approximately 500 grams of heroin, over 300 grams of methamphetamine, and other items related to illegal drug trafficking.
The investigators also determined that between May 2017 and November 2018, West purchased money orders every month with his illegal drug proceeds to pay rent at the apartment he used for his drug dealing. To conceal the laundering of his drug profits, West utilized another person to sign the lease to the apartment and placed their name on the money orders he used to pay the rent. That amount totaled over $29,000.
“Heroin and methamphetamine are dangerous drugs that continue to ravage our communities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney John E. Childress. “Putting those who infect our streets with these terrible drugs behind bars has been and will continue to be a top priority of this office.”
This investigation was a collaborative effort between several law enforcement agencies. The IRS-Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigation, DEA, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, and the Pro-Active Criminal Enforcement Team (PACE) from Hancock and Henry Counties investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Brady, who prosecuted the case for the government said West must also serve 5 years supervised release after his imprisonment.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdin/pr/indy-man-sentenced-27-years-drug-dealing-and-money-laundering