ALEXANDRIA, Va. - An international narcotics trafficker from the Dominican Republic pleaded guilty yesterday evening to leading and organizing a multi-million dollar conspiracy to purchase 100 kilograms of cocaine.
According to court documents, Luis Rafael Tavarez, aka El Primo, 36, traveled from New York to Northern Virginia on Oct. 23, 2018 with co-conspirators Manny Lizardo and Luis Liriano-Toribio to obtain 100 kilograms of cocaine in exchange for $2.5 million in cash. Law enforcement seized over $1.15 million in cash at the time of the Tavarez’s arrest.
On several occasions in September and October 2018, Tavarez reaffirmed his desire to travel to Virginia to conduct a large drug transaction whereby he would pay $25,000 per kilogram of cocaine. In connection with this multi-million dollar deal, Tavarez sought an additional vehicle, known to narcotics traffickers as a “trap vehicle," to split large amounts of cocaine into separate cars in order to minimize the risk of potentially losing the entire shipment or load of the drugs in the event that law enforcement stopped one of the vehicles. In furtherance of the conspiracy, Tavarez used multiple telephones, an alias, and encrypted communication platforms because he believed those measures would minimize the risk of law enforcement detection.
Tavarez admitted that Lizardo and Liriano-Toribio traveled to Northern Virginia to assist him in trafficking and/or transporting the large shipment of cocaine back to New York. Tavarez served as the leader and organizer of the operation, and was arrested at a hotel in Vienna in possession of over $1 million dollars in cash. Lizardo and Liriano-Toribio were arrested in a parking garage in Fairfax attempting to take possession of the cocaine.
Tavarez faces a mandatory minimum term of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison when sentenced on May 24. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Jesse R. Fong, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Field Division, Colonel Gary T. Settle, Superintendent of Virginia State Police, Patrick J. Lechleitner, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C., and Colonel Edwin C. Roessler Jr., Fairfax County Chief of Police, made the announcement after the plea was accepted by U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga. Assistant U.S. Attorney Raj Parekh is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:18-cr-426.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
