Illegal Immigrant Admits Role in Organization That Distributed More than 300 Kilos of Cocaine in Camden CAMDEN – A Mexican national pleaded guilty today to a two-count Superseding Information for his role in a conspiracy to distribute approximately 300 kilograms of cocaine and for illegally reentering the United States after having been previously deported, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced. Alvaro Ramos-Gonzalez, 45, of Tucson, Ariz., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Joseph E. Irenas to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine and to illegally re-entering the United States after previously having been deported following his conviction for an aggravated drug felony. The charges contained in a Superseding Information, to which Ramos-Gonzalez pleaded guilty, stem from a long-term investigation that culminated in the arrest of the six defendants on March 8, 2003, in Philadelphia. At the time of arrests, agents seized approximately 30 kilograms of cocaine, with an estimated street value of $5.85 million.
At his plea hearing, Ramos-Gonzalez admitted his involvement in a drug conspiracy in which hundreds of kilograms of cocaine were driven across the country from Tucson, Ariz., to the Philadelphia/Camden area. Ramos-Gonzalez admitted that during the time period covered in the Superseding Information, February 2002 through March 8, 2003, he agreed with others, including, Carlos Alberto Ramos-Gonzalez, 47, a Mexican national, Jose Francisco Gonzalez-Villa, 46, of Tucson, Ariz., and Peter M. Mellor, 46, of Tucson, Ariz., to transport and distribute the cocaine on behalf of the organization. Ramos-Gonzalez admitted that in February 2002, his brother Carlos Alberto Ramos-Gonzalez asked Mellor to drive cocaine across the country from Tucson to the Philadelphia/Camden area. Shortly thereafter, at his and Carlos’ request, Mellor began making the trips carrying multi-kilogram shipments of cocaine, Ramos-Gonzalez admitted. Ramos-Gonzalez admitted that during the time period covered in the Superseding Information, Mellor transported more than 300 kilograms of cocaine to the Philadelphia/Camden area. As his part in the conspiracy, Ramos-Gonzalez admitted that he regularly made trips to the Philadelphia/Camden area and back to Tucson. Also, Ramos-Gonzalez admitted that during the trips to the Philadelphia/Camden area, he assisted members of the conspiracy in delivering kilograms of cocaine to Raymond Morales, of Camden,/i>, and collecting the proceeds from the drug transaction. The drug conspiracy count carries a maximum penalty of life in prison and mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison, plus a fine of up to $4 million. The illegally re-entry count carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Christie credited the member agencies of the Philadelphia/Camden High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (H.I.D.T.A.) Task Force for their work in developing the case. The member agencies include: U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Camden Resident Office; the Camden Police Department, Camden County Prosecutor's Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Districts of New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania, FBI, New Jersey State Police, Philadelphia District Attorney's Office, Philadelphia Police Department, New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice, Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office, Camden County Sheriff's Department, ATF, Delaware River Port Authority Police, and the New Jersey National Guard Counter-Drug Program, for investigation of the case. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Diana V. Carrig, of the Criminal Division in Camden.
Defense Attorney: Guy R. Sciolla, Esq. Philadelphia
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