NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – August 23, 2019

SAN DIEGO – Three South American cocaine traffickers were sentenced in federal court this week after being convicted of transporting approximately 1,230 kilograms (2,706 pounds) of cocaine—worth more than $28 million USD—on the high seas.  The sentencing hearings followed a week-long trial in April in which a federal jury convicted all three defendants on all charges.

U.S. District Judge Roger T. Benitez handed down significant custodial sentences for defendants Adrian Andres Cortez-Quinonez, Segundo Marcial Dominguez-Caicedo, and Victor Gaspar-Chichande, sentencing them to 228 months, 216 months, and 160 months, respectively.  Cortez-Quinonez and Gaspar-Chichande were sentenced today; the court handed down Dominguiz-Caicedo’s sentence on Tuesday.

At trial, the United States proved that on December 31, 2017, the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Stratton responded to a report of a suspicious go-fast vessel traveling in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, approximately 100 nautical miles north of the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. The Stratton launched a helicopter and two small boats to intercept the vessel.

As the helicopter closed in, the defendants stopped their vessel to avoid detection. But as the helicopter circled the vessel, the defendants took off, and soon a high-speed chase on the high seas ensued.

The defendants eventually brought their vessel to a stop when they could not outrun the Coast Guard helicopter.  Dramatic video from the helicopter captured the defendants jettisoning dozens of bales of cocaine overboard.  The defendants sped away again.  With the go-fast vessel barreling through the high seas, and the helicopter in pursuit, a Coast Guard precision marksman hanging from the side of the helicopter took five shots at the vessel’s engines, disabling the vessel.  Defendants were ultimately detained by the Coast Guard, and other Coast Guard boats recovered the jettisoned cocaine.  After the defendants were transported to the United States, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration continued the investigation.

“Defendants were not a haphazardly thrown-together motley crew.  They operated a well-oiled machine,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Mokhtari at sentencing. “But for the incredible skill, training and acumen of the United States Coast Guard, defendants might well be celebrating a successful cocaine venture.” 

“This prosecution required precision targeting of a speeding vessel during a dramatic high seas chase,” said U.S. Attorney Robert S. Brewer, Jr. “From the capture at sea to the terrific presentation at trial this was the epitome of a team effort and I commend the U.S. Coast Guard, DEA, Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Mokhtari and our former Coast Guard Special Assistants, Ari Fitzwater and Emily Gibbons” 

“Coast Guard crews who risk their lives interdicting multi-ton shipments of cocaine at sea are gratified to see another successful prosecution of smugglers,” said Rear Adm. Peter W. Gautier, Commander of the 11th Coast Guard District. “I’m proud of what our people on patrol accomplish, and appreciate the U.S. Attorneys who bring these drug traffickers to justice and make Coast Guard actions worthwhile. Together our law enforcement crews at sea, investigators ashore, and prosecutors in courtrooms are working to disrupt the criminal networks behind the deadly flow of illegal drugs that threaten our nation.”   

“These men tried to bring over 24 million dosage units of cocaine into the United States.  That is so much cocaine that the 1.4 million residents of San Diego City each could have gotten over 17 dosages units.  That is crazy.  Cocaine is a dangerous drug and while it was not meant to stay in San Diego, it would have crushed the city had it made it through,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Karen Flowers. “In this case, DEA teamed up with the U.S. Coast Guard and our law enforcement partners to save lives and protect the homeland.  These men wanted to profit off of their greed, with utter disregard for other people’s lives.  Now they will pay for their actions with 13 to 19 years of their lives.”

This case is the result of the ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership that brings together the combined expertise and unique abilities of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. 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.

 

DEFENDANTS                                             Case Number 18cr0421-BEN    

Adrian Andres Cortez-Quinonez                Age: 25                                 Ecuador

Segundo Marcial Dominguez-Caicedo      Age: 36                                  Colombia

Victor Gaspar-Chichande                           Age:  30                                 Ecuador

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine Onboard a Vessel Subject to the Jurisdiction of the United States – Title 46, U.S.C., Section 70503, 70506(b)

Maximum Penalty: Life in prison and $10 million fine

Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine Onboard a Vessel Subject to the Jurisdiction of the United States – Title 46, U.S.C., Section 70503

Maximum Penalty: Life in prison and $10 million fine

AGENCY

U.S. Coast Guard

U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration



Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF)

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Mokhtari (619) 546-8402, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ari Fitzwater (619) 546-8756, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Gibbons (619) 546-8419

NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – April 17, 2019

SAN DIEGO – Three South American men were convicted by a federal jury late yesterday of trafficking approximately 1,230 kilograms (2,706 pounds) of cocaine worth more than $28 million on the high seas. The verdict came after a weeklong trial before U.S. District Judge Roger T. Benitez.  

At trial, the government proved that on December 31, 2017, a U.S. Coast Guard Cutter responded to a report of a suspicious vessel traveling in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, approximately 100 nautical miles north of the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. The Coast Guard Cutter Stratton launched a helicopter and two small boats to intercept the vessel.

As the helicopter closed in, the defendants – Adrian Andres Cortez-Quinonez, Segundo Marcial Dominguez-Caicedo  and Victor Gaspar-Chichande – stopped their go-fast vessel to avoid detection. But as the helicopter circled the vessel, the defendants attempted to evade the helicopter. 

The defendants eventually brought their vessel to a stop when they could not outrun the Coast Guard helicopter and then began jettisoning dozens of bails of cocaine overboard. They took off again, but a U.S. Coast Guard marksman onboard the helicopter disabled the fleeing vessel’s engines with precision. The Coast Guard detained the defendants and recovered the jettisoned cocaine. After the defendants were transported to the United States, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration continued the investigation.

“The high seas are not a secret freeway for narco-traffickers to cross with impunity,” said U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer. “This verdict is proof that we are watching, and we will take whatever action necessary to prevent these dangerous drugs from hitting our streets. I appreciate the efforts of prosecutors Kevin Mokhtari, Ari Fitzwater and Emily Gibbons and our partners at the Coast Guard and the DEA. Their hard work has led to this outcome.”

“Thanks to the determined efforts of the Stratton’s officers and crew, as well as the helicopter detachment, these smugglers have been brought to justice,” said Eleventh Coast Guard District Commander, Rear Admiral Peter W. Gautier. “This seizure is just one example of the thousands of kilograms of narcotics seized every month by the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard will continue its tireless fight against trafficking of illegal narcotics at sea and the networks that threaten this country.”

“These traffickers attempted to smuggle more than one ton of cocaine into the United States - which would have had a devastating impact on our communities,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Karen Flowers. “Due to the collaborative efforts of the Coast Guard and DEA, we were able to stop these traffickers and keep these deadly drugs out of our communities.”

This case is the result of the ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership that brings together the combined expertise and unique abilities of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. 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.

The defendants are scheduled to be sentenced on July 15, 2019 before Judge Benitez.

DEFENDANTS                                                        Case Number 18cr0421                                           

Adrian Andres Cortez-Quinonez                                Age: 24                                               Ecuador

Segundo Marcial Dominguez-Caicedo                       Age: 35                                               Colombia

Victor Gaspar-Chichande                                          Age: 29                                               Ecuador                                                          

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine Onboard a Vessel Subject to the Jurisdiction of the United States –

Title 46, U.S.C., Section 70503, 70506(b)

Maximum Penalty: Life in prison and $10 million fine

Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine Onboard a Vessel Subject to the Jurisdiction of the United States – Title 46, U.S.C., Section 70503

Maximum Penalty: Life in prison and $10 million fine

AGENCY

U.S. Coast Guard

U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration

Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF)