Admits To Distributing 10,000 Kilograms of Cocaine During Two Year Conspiracy
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Assistant U. S. Attorney Sherri Walker Hobson (619) 961-0287
SAN DIEGO - Defendant Luis Carlos Melgar-Morales, aka Aquaman, pled guilty today in a San Diego federal district court to international conspiracy to distribute over 10,000 kilograms of cocaine, knowing that the cocaine would be distributed in the United States, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 959, 960 and 963. He also admitted to criminal forfeiture in the amount of $1,000,000.
Melgar-Morales, 28, admitted engaging in a two-year conspiracy to import and distribute cocaine in the United States and conceded he was a manager and leader of the responsible drug trafficking organization. In furtherance of the charged conspiracy, and at direction of Willian Lemus, Melgar-Morales arranged for multiple go-fast vessels to travel in international waters on many occasions to transport bulk cocaine from Colombia and Ecuador, known source countries for the cocaine, to Costa Rica and Guatemala, and from there the drugs would be transported to Mexico and smuggled into the United States.
Melgar-Morales also facilitated and coordinated the points of travel of the cocaine-laden go fast vessels as they met with refueling vessels on the high seas and communicated to the transportation network about the vessels’ status as they journeyed north. In addition, he facilitated and coordinated the successful delivery of cocaine vessels from Columbia and Ecuador to Costa Rica and Guatemala.
Melgar-Morales admitted that the international conspiracy involved the distribution of over 10,000 kilograms of cocaine during the two-year period from January 2016 to January 2018. Melgar-Morales was also involved in multiple events that resulted in law enforcement seizures including the following: May 19, 2017 (810 kilograms of cocaine); May 23, 2017 (980 kilograms of cocaine); November 9, 2017 (750 kilograms of cocaine); Dec. 16, 2017 (1,082 kilograms of cocaine); and Jan. 27, 2018 (601 kilograms of cocaine).
Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) Special Agents and Customs and Border Protection officers arrested Melgar-Morales at the Los Angeles airport on Jan. 26, 2018, as he was returning to Guatemala, where he resided. Melgar-Morales’ associate, Willian Lemus-Lara, charged in a separate indictment, was arrested in Guatemala pursuant to an outstanding arrest warrant from the Southern District of California in June 2018, identified in United States v. Willian Lemus-Lara, 18CR0390DMS. Willian Lemus-Lara is currently in extradition proceedings.
“Federal law enforcement officials worked together in three countries to successfully disrupt a dangerous drug trafficking ring that sought to smuggle 10,000 kilos of cocaine (with a retail value of $600 million) into the U.S.," said U.S. Attorney Adam Braverman. “Through effective partnerships and excellent intelligence gathering tools, we intercepted significant loads of this highly addictive stimulant, stripped traffickers of drug profits, and helped to safeguard our communities."
“Today’s guilty plea highlights the success of collaborative efforts by HSI San Diego, DEA, Customs and Border Protection and other agency partners, as well as our HSI counterparts overseas. This joint effort has resulted in significant seizures of narcotics, firearms and other contraband and has helped law enforcement identify high ranking targets of this criminal organization," said David Shaw, Special Agent in Charge for HSI San Diego. “HSI will remain committed in our investigative efforts to bring additional members to justice."
“This case is an excellent example of the whole government approach set forth by the OCDETF Task Forces throughout our country," said Drug Enforcement Administration Acting Special Agent in Charge Nathan Jones. “It is a testament to the outstanding men and women in federal law enforcement who work tirelessly day in and day out to identify, target, and bring to justice the drug trafficking and transnational organized crime groups that seek to import illicit drugs into the United States and undermine the very fabric of our nation."
This case is the result of ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership that brings together the combined expertise of federal, state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, dismantle and prosecute high-level members of drug trafficking, weapons trafficking, and money laundering organizations and enterprises.
Melgar-Morales’ sentencing date is scheduled for Jan. 18, 2019 at 9:00 a.m. before the Honorable Dana M. Sabraw, United States District Court Judge.
DEFENDANT Case Number 18CR0391DMS
Luis Carlos Melgar-Morales, aka Aquaman Age: 28 Guatemala
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
International Conspiracy To Distribute 10,000 kilograms of cocaine into the United States
Maximum penalty: 10 years minimum to life; $1,000,000 fine; supervised release; $100 special assessment)
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
U.S. Coast Guard
HSI Joint Task Force Investigations (JTF-I)
HSI Attaché Guatemala City, Guatemala
HSI Attaché Mexico City Mexico
Joint Interagency Task Force-South (JIATF-S)
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
