Three individuals have confessed to their involvement in a drug trafficking operation in Berkeley and Jefferson Counties, West Virginia. Juan Carlos Suarez-Lugo, 55, of Martinsburg, and Alexis Alvarado, 38, of Ranson, both admitted guilt to conspiracy charges related to the possession and distribution of over 500 grams of cocaine. Mauricio Antonio Alvarado-Flores, 38, a Salvadoran national, also pled guilty to similar drug charges and illegal reentry.
Court documents reveal that Suarez-Lugo, Alvarado, and Alvarado-Flores collaborated with others in distributing drugs for the organization. Each faces a potential prison sentence ranging from five to forty years for the drug offenses. Additionally, Alvarado-Flores could face up to two years for illegal reentry. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge who will consider U.S. Sentencing Guidelines among other factors.
The prosecution is led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher. The Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force spearheaded the investigation with assistance from multiple agencies including the FBI's various field offices; U.S. Marshals Service; Homeland Security Investigations; DEA's Louisville and Chicago Divisions; ATF; state police departments across West Virginia and Virginia; local police departments; sheriff’s offices across several counties; West Virginia Air National Guard; Northwest Regional Drug Task Force in Virginia; Pennsylvania State Police among others.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble oversaw the proceedings.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration and dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations through coordinated efforts involving resources from OCDETFs and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
