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 LeslieFaviola-Alvarado22, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, to 56 months in prison and five years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Faviola-Alvaradopreviously pleaded guilty to this charge on May 13, 2015. On June 9, 2015, Judge Flanagan sentenced Faviola-Alvarado’sco-defendant, Felipe De Jesus Jaramillo-Rosas29, of Gwinnett County, Georgia, to 56 months in prison and five years of supervised release.

The investigation revealed that on June 25, 2013, Jaramillo-Rosasand Faviola-Alvaradotook possession of 907 grams of methamphetamine from a source of supply in the Atlanta, Georgia, area and began driving to Johnston County, N.C., to deliver the methamphetamine to drug traffickers. Jaramillo-Rosasand Faviola-Alvaradoarrived in Johnston County on June 26, 2013. However, the drug traffickers decided not to accept the methamphetamine. As Jaramillo-Rosas and Faviola-Alvaradowere attempting to deliver the methamphetamine back to the suppliers in Atlanta, the North Carolina Highway Patrol stopped their car in Graham, N.C. The trooper discovered that the driver, Jaramillo-Rosasdid not have a valid driver’s license and smelled a strong odor of marijuana from the car. The trooper asked for and received consent to search the car. Troopers located the methamphetamine in two plastic containers in the back seat of the car during the consent search.

This case was part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task (OCDETF) Operation “Smokin’ Aces.”Operation “Smokin’ Aces” was designed to attack the infrastructure of Mexican Drug Trafficking Organizations operating not only in the Eastern District of North Carolina, but throughout North Carolina, the United States and Mexico. These organizations are responsible for the importation of large quantities of cocaine, marijuana, and methamphetamine into the United States, as well as the related remittance of illegal drug proceeds back into Mexico.

The investigation of this case was conducted by the United States Drug Enforcement (DEA), the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office, the North Carolina Highway Patrol, the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office and the Greenville Police Department. 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.