Brothers Sentenced In $3 Million Cocaine Conspiracy
NORFOLK, VA - . -Two brothers, Manuel Zuniga, age 24, and Aaron Zuniga, age 23, both from Woodbridge, Virginia, have been sentenced in Norfolk federal court to prison terms for their roles in a conspiracy involving the distribution of $3 million worth of cocaine in Virginia Beach, Va.
Ava A. Cooper-Davis, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, made the announcement after Manuel Zuniga was sentenced today by United States District Judge Rebecca Beach Smith. Aaron Zuniga was sentenced yesterday, April 27, 2011, by Judge Smith.
Manuel Zuniga was sentenced to 16 years and eight months in prison for his role in distributing 30 kilograms of cocaine in Virginia Beach from 2006 to 2010. Aaron Zuniga was sentenced to seven years in prison for his involvement from 2009 to 2010. Earlier this year, another co-conspirator, Erik Mayo, 30, of Virginia Beach, was sentenced by Senior United States District Judge Robert G. Doumar to more than nine years in prison for his role of breaking down the cocaine to less than 1 gram increments for distribution to customers in Virginia Beach.
According to court documents, the defendants admitted to having been involved in the distribution of approximately 30 kilograms of cocaine over a period of several years. The kilograms were sold in 7/10 of gram increments for a total value of $3 million during the conspiracy.
So far, three others have pled guilty in federal court in Norfolk to their involvement and are awaiting sentencing: Adam Tisdale and Peter Meyer of Virginia Beach, and Steven Gonzalez of Woodbridge. One other defendant, Jesus Sanchez Orozco, also of Woodbridge, the source of supply of Manuel Zuniga, previously pled guilty in Alexandria federal court and also awaits sentencing.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Virginia Beach Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin M. Comstock is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia www.justice.gov/usao/vae. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.vaed.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.uspci.uscourts.gov.
