Seven indicted in SETX for transnational drug trafficking

A federal grand jury in Beaumont returned an indictment charging seven individuals with various federal violations related to a complex international drug trafficking conspiracy, U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston announced Feb. 3.

Named in the indictment are Alberto Garcia Bonilla, 52, Yimminson Caicedo Diaz, 27, Edwin Jose Pereira Arroyo, 26, Jaime Vivanco Cuellar, 39, Carlos Vicente Guagua Vasquez, 20, John Jairo Morales Parraga, 23, and Jonny Javier Cuero Sinisterra, 43, all of Colombia and Ecuador. The defendants were charged with “conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine while on board a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.” The indictment asserts approximately $60 million in alleged criminal activity since 2021. The defendants’ criminal activity was halted, the indictment details, the day after Dec. 27, 2021, when two vessels containing a combined 4,186 kilograms (more than 9,200 pounds) of cocaine were detained by the El Salvadoran Navy that was tipped off as to the drug shipment by the Colombian National Police.

If convicted, the defendants face a minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison, a fine of up to $10 million, and forfeiture of $60,152,300 in U.S. currency.