A California man has been sentenced to more than ten years in federal prison for his role in a drug trafficking operation that resulted in the seizure of over 100 kilograms of cocaine. U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar handed down a 121-month sentence to Mario Valencia-Birruetta, 35, of Corning, California, for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
The sentencing was announced by Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, along with officials from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Baltimore Police Department (BPD), Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD), and Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS).
According to authorities, the investigation began in 2023 when federal agencies started looking into a Baltimore-based drug trafficking organization distributing large amounts of cocaine. Valencia-Birruetta was identified as a member of this group and placed on a flight watch list.
On August 14, investigators were alerted that Valencia-Birruetta had purchased an airline ticket to Baltimore. Surveillance teams tracked his movements after he arrived in the city and stayed at the Hamilton Residence. Over several days, law enforcement observed multiple suspected drug traffickers meeting with him and saw evidence suggesting involvement in drug transactions.
After returning briefly to California, Valencia-Birruetta flew back to Baltimore at the end of August. Investigators maintained surveillance at both his residence and a stash location in Timonium, Maryland. They watched as co-conspirators transported bags believed to contain drugs between locations.
Law enforcement eventually detained Valencia-Birruetta and another individual after observing them remove duffle bags from their vehicle outside the stash location. A visible tear in one bag revealed kilogram packages of drugs inside. Officers seized 43 kilograms of cocaine from these bags and found an additional 32 kilograms inside the stash site along with equipment used for processing narcotics, marijuana, cash, money counters, and firearms.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended all participating agencies for their efforts in the investigation: “Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Calvin Miner and Stanton Lawyer who are prosecuting this federal case.”
Further information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office is available at justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
