News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 15, 2007
Contact: Terri K. Wyatt
Special Agent/PIO
Number: 214-366-6900

Mexican Drug Trafficker Gets 30 Years
Long prison term for defendant who distributed over 1 million lbs of marijuana

FEB 15 -- OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - John C. Richter, United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma, announced that JESUS ADOLFO TINAJERO-PORRAS (a/k/a/ Adolfo TINAJERO), 47, an illegal alien from Julimes, Mexico, living in Oklahoma City, was sentenced today by United States District Judge David L. Russell to serve 30 years in federal prison and forfeit over $2.4 million for conspiracy to possess and distribute cocaine and marijuana.

TINAJERO was convicted by a jury on September 14, 2006, of 10 counts of drug trafficking, including conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine and marijuana, maintaining residences for the purpose of storing and distributing controlled substances, distributions of cocaine and marijuana and money laundering. The trial lasted three days before the jury convicted on the 10 counts.

Evidence at trial showed that TINAJERO, an illegal alien, operated a drug trafficking ring in the Oklahoma City area from early 1999 until his arrest on April 20, 2006. TINAJERO was an importer of cocaine and marijuana from Mexico who then sold the drugs to other distributors in the Oklahoma City area. He used the profits from his trafficking to buy both commercial and residential real estate and then used the locations to store and distribute drugs.

At sentencing, TINAJERO was held specifically accountable for the distribution of over 5,650 pounds of marijuana and as the source for over 40 kilograms (88 pounds) of cocaine, some of which was rocked up into crack cocaine for further distribution by his buyers, according to trial testimony. For purposes of determining his sentence under the federal sentencing guidelines, a statutory formula is used to convert all drugs involved to a marijuana equivalent. Here, the drug quantity level was determined to be an equivalent of over 1.3 million pounds of marijuana.

At sentencing, the Court also ordered the forfeiture of $2,443,650 -- the estimated proceeds of TINAJERO’s drug trafficking -- as well as his interest in two of the parcels of real estate and firearms and ammunition found at his Norman ranch (10501 East Franklin Road) at the time of his arrest.

“ We have removed a major drug trafficker from Oklahoma for the next 30 years,” said U.S. Attorney John C. Richter. “We have also taken from him the fruits of his illegal labors. I want to commend the fine work of the DEA, Oklahoma City Police Department and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics who led this investigation and the other law enforcement agencies who assisted them.”

“ This defendant was responsible for conspiring to distribute the equivalent of over a million pounds of marijuana during the course of this investigation as well as laundering monies in excess of $2.4 million dollars,” said James L. Capra, Special Agent in Charge of the Dallas Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration. “The 30-year sentence handed down by the Court is reflective of the magnitude and seriousness of these crimes.”

“ This is an example of the positive results when law enforcement and prosecutors work in concert to make an impact in our State,” said R. Darrell Weaver, Director of the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Control. “We are much stronger together, working hand in glove to stand courageously against this evil cancer we see daily in the seedy world of drug traffickers. We must have great resolve in pursuing the dismantlement and disruption of these economic based offenders to make a safer Oklahoma.”

This case was the result of a joint investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Oklahoma City Police Department, and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, who were assisted by the Norman Police Department, Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office, Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary M. Smith.

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