Fentanyl and cocaine seized
GREENSBORO, N.C. - Two defendants pleaded guilty on July 14, 2017, to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances in Orange County, North Carolina, announced Sandra J. Hairston, Acting United States Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina.
AGUSTIN GUDINO AGUILAR pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine hydrochloride and fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1). LUIS EDER ORTEGA LOPEZ pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine hydrochloride, also in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1).
During the investigation, the defendants agreed to sell four kilograms of cocaine hydrochloride and two kilograms of heroin to a confidential informant operating under the supervision of law enforcement officers. Incident to the arrest of the defendants, investigators recovered approximately four kilograms of cocaine hydrochloride and two kilograms of fentanyl. A search warrant executed following the arrests resulted in seizure of an additional 300 grams of cocaine hydrochloride and $43,580 in U.S. currency.
Fentanyl is commonly laced in heroin and is causing significant problems across the country, according to a United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) public safety warning issued in 2015. Fentanyl is extremely dangerous to law enforcement and others who come in contact with it, and ingestion of even very small doses can be fatal.
Each defendant faces from five to 40 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $5,000,000, and a term of supervised release of not less than four years. Sentencings for both defendants are scheduled for Nov. 1, 2017, at 9:30 p.m. in Greensboro, Courtroom #1.
The DEA, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, and the Alamance Narcotics Enforcement Team, a multi-agency task force, participated in the investigation.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
