News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 17, 2009
Erin Mulvey
212-337-2906

Drug Trafficker Sentenced To 20 Years Imprisonment

DEC 17 - (Rochester, N.Y.) — John P. Gilbride, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division Drug Enforcement Administration and Kathleen M. Mehltretter, United States Attorney Western District of New York announced on Thursday, December 17, 2009 that WILLIAM G. DE LA TORRE, was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment and a $2,500 fine by U.S. District Judge David G. Larimer.

DE LA TORRE, age 34, is a dual citizen of the United States and Mexico. DE LA TORRE was living in Houston, Texas at the time of his arrest. DE LA TORRE was convicted of conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, 5 kilograms or more of cocaine on December 1, 2006.

In addition to this sentencing, DE LA TORRE was ordered to forfeit $2,500,000 in United States currency, which amount represents proceeds of the conspiracy.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank H. Sherman, who handled the case, stated that the defendant was involved with a group of individuals that distributed over 150 kilograms of cocaine in the United States during the period from 2000 to 2004, primarily in Rochester, New York, Chicago, New York City, Atlanta and New England. The cocaine had been brought into the United States from Mexico.

This sentencing in federal court resulted from an OCDETF investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration & Customs Enforcement, assisted by the Rochester Police Department and the United States Marshals Service.