A Guatemalan citizen, Roberto Carlo Giron Hernandez, also known as “Gordo” and “RC,” has been extradited to the United States to face federal charges related to a cocaine trafficking conspiracy. The 49-year-old is set for his initial appearance in federal court in Miami.
Court documents indicate that Giron Hernandez is accused of conspiring to distribute cocaine with knowledge or intent that it would be imported into the United States. He was arrested by Guatemalan authorities on February 3 following a provisional arrest warrant.
A federal grand jury in the Southern District of Florida indicted Giron Hernandez on one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine for importation into the country. If found guilty, he could receive a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Miami Field Division, and DEA Guatemala Country Attaché Aubree Fierro jointly announced the extradition.
The investigation is being conducted by the DEA Miami Field Division and DEA Guatemala Country Office. Support for the arrest and extradition came from the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, Department of State, and Guatemalan government.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lynn Kirkpatrick is leading the prosecution.
This case falls under Operation Take Back America, an initiative that coordinates resources from various agencies such as the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN) to combat illegal immigration, eliminate cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and address violent crime nationwide.
It is noted that an indictment represents only an allegation; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
Further information about this case can be accessed at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 24-cr-20408.
