TULSA, Okla. - On Friday, a federal jury found Samuel Garcia-Escalera, 36, and Joel Deloera-Escalera, 34, guilty of conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 15 kilograms or more of methamphetamine; maintaining drug-involved premises; possession of firearms and ammunition; and being aliens illegally in the United States after deportation; announced United States Attorney Danny C. Williams Sr., for the Northern District of Oklahoma.
The second Superseding Indictment was filed on April 14, 2014, and unsealed on April 15, 2014. United States District Judge Claire V. Eagan, who presided over the trial, scheduled the sentencings on Nov. 24, 2014, for Joel Deloera-Escalera, and Nov. 25, 2014, for Samuel Garcia-Escalera.
According to court documents, from April 2012 to August 2013, Garcia-Escalera and Deloera-Escalera conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 15 kilograms or more of methamphetamine. The jury also found Garcia-Escalera and Deloera-Escalera guilty of maintaining houses for the purpose of storing and distributing methamphetamine, and possession of firearms and ammunitions while being aliens illegally and unlawfully in the United States. Specifically, Garcia-Escalera was found guilty of possessing a.45 caliber pistol; and Deloera-Escalera was found guilty of possessing a.40 caliber pistol, 9mm caliber semi-automatic pistol, a.22 caliber revolver, and various ammunitions. Garcia-Escalera was also found guilty of possessing a.45 caliber pistol in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
In a separate criminal information, Garcia-Escalera pleaded guilty to attempting to corruptly persuade others with the intent to prevent witnesses from testifying in the trial. He faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
At the time of sentencing, the defendants face up to life in prison and up to a $10,000,000 fine for the drug conspiracy; up to 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine for maintaining a drug-involved premise; up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for possession of firearms and ammunition as illegal aliens. Garcia-Escalera also faces up to life in prison and a $250,000 for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
As a part of their sentence, the defendants face entry of a forfeiture money judgment in the amount of at least $1,750,000. The judgment represents proceeds obtained as a result of the methamphetamine conspiracy.
The case was investigated by the Tulsa Police Department, Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gary L. Davis II, Jan Reincke, and Catherine Depew on behalf of the United States.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
