News Release
June 17, 2004

Two Illegal Aliens Indicted In Cocaine Conspiracy

JUN 17--A federal grand jury indicted two illegal aliens from Mexico as part of a Mexican cocaine distribution conspiracy. Laura Nagel, Special Agent in Charge of DEA’s Washington Division, identified the drug traffickers as Salvador Perez-Perez and Domingo Orduno-Esquer who are charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 kilograms or more of cocaine. The indictment alleges that the defendants agreed to receive approximately seventy (70) kilograms of cocaine that had been illegally imported into the United States from Mexico. The estimated street value of the cocaine is $1.4 million.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.

The defendants face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $4,000,000 fine, and a period of supervised release of at least five years.

The criminal charges in this indictment were the result of a joint investigation by DEA’s Baltimore District Office, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Baltimore, Maryland, Tucson, Arizona, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and New York City, the Baltimore City and Prince George’s County Police Departments, Maryland State Police and the United States Attorney’s Office.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Harry M. Gruber.