Cobb County Drug Traffickers Sentenced To Federal Prison

Firearms, Drugs, Police Gear, Stun Guns, and Counterfeit Currency Recovered

ATLANTA – Ten members of a drug ring operating out of Cobb County were sentenced to prison on various federal narcotics, firearms, and immigration-related charges. 

“Multiple agencies working effectively together dismantled a drug trafficking organization and removed their poisonous drugs, dangerous weapons, and counterfeit money from our streets,” said United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates.   “Now, these defendants have traded their contraband for a combined 141 years, 4 months in federal prison.”  

“Drug-related assaults, often times in the form of kidnappings, are one of the many acts of violence committed by drug traffickers seeking to carry out their ruthless mission,” said Harry S. Sommers, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division.  The DEA and its law enforcement counterparts are committed to protecting our citizens from drug violence and the scourge of drug abuse. These individuals will now have to pay the consequences of their actions by spending well-deserved time in prison.”

“The GBI is committed to working with our federal law enforcement counterparts to identify and bring to justice those involved in drug trafficking,” said Vernon Keenan, GBI Director.

“ATF’s involvement in securing these sentences is a prime example of the successful use of federal laws to confront, engage and eliminate criminal activity.  Criminals must understand that there are serious repercussions for illegal trafficking of narcotics and illegal possession of firearms and that law enforcement will contribute all necessary time and effort to ensure criminals are brought to justice,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Christopher Shaefer.

“The prison time received by these defendants should serve as a strong warning that tough punishment awaits those who embark on a similar criminal path,” stated Veronica Hyman-Pillot, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-Criminal Investigation. “These sentences are the result of hard work and a true team effort.” 

“This case illustrates not just the significance of partnerships with state and federal law enforcement agencies, but it also illustrates how criminals still continue to use counterfeiting as a means to fund their criminal activity.  The Secret Service and our law enforcement partners will continue to use aggressive and innovative approaches to investigate and arrest these types of criminals,” said Reginald G. Moore, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service, Atlanta Field Office.

According to United States Attorney Yates, the charges and other information presented in court:  While investigating a drug trafficking organization operating in metro-Atlanta, agents learned on February 2, 2012, that Nemias Cintora-Gonzalez had devised a plan to assault a fellow drug dealer because of an outstanding $2,700 drug debt.  On that date, Nemias Cintora-Gonzalez was overheard speaking to another drug associate about his plans to have four others with him the next morning when he inflicted physical injury on the fellow drug dealer for the purpose of motivating him to repay the debt.

A few hours later, while conducting surveillance of Neimas Cintora-Gonzalez’s apartment located in Smyrna, agents observed Edgar Cintora-Gonzalez transferring two large bags from the trunk of a white Honda Accord, registered to an alias of Nemias Cintora-Gonzalez, into the trunk of a white Suzuki Verona, registered to the wife of Israel Edgardo Revera-Pacheco.  At approximately 10:45 p.m. that same evening, agents executed a federal search warrant at the apartment, encountering and arresting Jorge Armando-Reyes, Nemias Cintora-Gonzalez, Edgar Cintora-Gonzalez, Victor Hugo Morales-Avila, Israel Edgardo Revera-Pacheco, and Brenda Perez. 

During the search of the apartment and the Suzuki Verona, agents seized:

•thirteen handguns (including several semi-automatic firearms)
•four assault rifles
•numerous magazines and ammunition for the weapons
•methamphetamine
•cocaine
•two stun guns
•two large crowbars
•one large bolt cutter
•police gear
•a black ski mask, black turtle neck shirt, and black gloves
•over $11,000 in counterfeit U.S. Currency
•drug packaging materials
•zip ties
•two bulletproof vests

During a search of cellular telephones recovered in the apartment, agents found photographs of Armando-Reyes and Morales-Avila posing with assault weapons and police gear. 

On February 23, 2012, federal agents arrested Jose Vazquez Estrada at his residence in Marietta.  Estrada was a significant drug customer of Nemias Cintora-Gonzalez.  During a consent search of Estrada’s apartment, agents located over 909 grams of methamphetamine on dinner plates in the kitchen. 

Agents arrested Pedro Gutierrez Valdiviez on April 18, 2012, who was Estrada’s drug partner, after he attempted to sell six ounces of methamphetamine to an undercover agent in a Marietta Wal-Mart parking lot.

Maria Yobal Perez was arrested on May 16, 2012, at her Marietta residence.  Yobal Perez was overheard conducting methamphetamine transactions on behalf of her husband, Alvaro Carraza Echeverria, who was serving a 30 year sentence in a Georgia state correctional facility for trafficking in methamphetamine.  Echeverria was overheard brokering methamphetamine deals from the correctional facility using an illegally smuggled cellular telephone. 

After being indicted, eight defendants pleaded guilty, and Nemias Cintora-Gonzalez and Jorge Armando-Reyes were convicted after a jury trial. All defendants have now been sentenced by United States District Judge Orinda Evans, as described more fully below:

•Nemias Cintora-Gonzalez, 30, of Smyrna, Ga., was sentenced to 29 years, 4 months in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release.  Cintora-Gonzalez was convicted on February 22, 2013, following a federal jury trial, of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; possession of a firearm by an alien unlawfully and illegally in the United States; and possession of counterfeit federal reserve notes with the intent to defraud.

•Jorge Armando-Reyes, 31, of Smyrna, Ga., was sentenced to 17 years, 6 months in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release.  Armando-Reyes was convicted on February 22, 2013, following a federal jury trial, of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; possession of a firearm by an alien unlawfully and illegally in the United States; and possession of counterfeit federal reserve notes with the intent to defraud.

•Alvaro Carraza Echeverria, 50, of Marietta, Ga., was sentenced to 21 years in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release.   Echeverria pleaded guilty on October 23, 2012, to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.

•Jose Vazquez Estrada, 35, of Marietta, Ga., was sentenced to 15 years, 7 months in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release.  Estrada pleaded guilty on May 25, 2012, to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine and illegal re-entry by a removed alien. 

•Pedro Gutierrez Valdiviez, 48, of Marietta, Ga., was sentenced to 18 years, 9 months in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release.  Valdiviez pleaded guilty on July 2, 2012, to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.

•Edgar Cintora-Gonzalez, 26, of Smyrna, Ga., was sentenced to 11 years, 8 months in prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release.  Edgar Cintora-Gonzalez pleaded guilty on May 29, 2012, to possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and possession of a firearm by an alien unlawfully and illegally in the United States. 

•Israel Edgardo Revera-Pacheco, 29, of Smyrna, Ga., was sentenced to 10 years in prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release.  Revera-Pacheco pleaded guilty on May 4, 2012, to possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and possession of a firearm by an alien unlawfully and illegally in the United States.

•Victor Hugo Morales-Avila, 35, of Smyrna, Ga., was sentenced to 9 years, 4 months in prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release.  Morales-Avila pleaded guilty on February 19, 2013, to possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; possession of a firearm by an alien unlawfully and illegally in the United States; and illegal re-entry by a removed alien. 

•Maria Yobal Perez, 51, of Marietta, Ga., was sentenced to 8 years, 1 month in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release.  Yobal Perez pleaded guilty on August 30, 2012, to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.

•Brenda Perez, 31, of Marietta, Ga., was sentenced to 1 year probation.  Perez pleaded guilty on May 4, 2012, to misprision of a felony (concealing and failing to report her co-defendants’ illegal drug activities.)

These cases were investigated by Special Agents and Task Force Officers of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, United States Secret Service, and Internal Revenue Service.

Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Herskowitz and J. Elizabeth McBath prosecuted the cases.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the HomePage for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is www.justice.gov/usao/gan.