United States Drug Enforcement Administration

NEW BERN, N.C. - United States Attorney Thomas G. Walker announced that in federal court today, United States District Judge Louise W. Flanagan sentenced Fabio Hirochi Inoue, - 40, of Anaheim, California, to 51 months in prison and five years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute and possess five kilograms or more of cocaine and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. Inoue - previously pleaded guilty to these charges on May 13, 2014.

The investigation revealed that between April 2013 and September 22, 2013, Inoue - flew to North Carolina and Florida to deliver cocaine and collect drug proceeds for a drug trafficking organization operating out of Mexico and California. Inoue - made several trips during this time period to meet with traffickers in the Johnston County, N.C., area. During these trips he delivered multiple kilograms of cocaine and collected approximately $185,745 in drug proceeds. Inoue - laundered some of the drug proceeds by depositing portions into a bank account in the name of a real estate business located in California. Based on the investigation, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration discovered that Inoue - would be flying to the Raleigh Durham International Airport with several kilograms of cocaine on September 22, 2013. Agents found Inoue - at the airport and seized his luggage which contained 3,891 grams of cocaine. In total, Inoue - was found to be responsible for trafficking 12.7 kilograms of cocaine.

The investigation of this case was conducted by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division. The federal prosecution was handled by Special Assistant United States Attorney Glenn Perry. Mr. Perry is a prosecutor with the Pitt County District Attorney’s Office. Pitt County District Attorney Kimberly Robb has assigned Mr. Perry to the United States Attorney’s Office to prosecute federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force criminal matters. Mr. Perry’s assignment to the United States Attorney’s Office has been made possible by grants funded by the Governor’s Crime Commission.

The DEA encourages parents, along with their children, to educate themselves about the dangers of legal and illegal drugs by visiting DEA’s interactive websites at www.justthinktwice.com, www.GetSmartAboutDrugs.com and www.dea.gov.