United States of America v. Alejandro Llamas-Delgado, Gregorio Ramirez-Maldonaldo and Erick Parra-Salazar

Minneapolis, MN - Federal Jury Convicts Three Twin Cities Drug Traffickers



Alejandro Llamas-Delgado was one of the state’s biggest methamphetamine traffickers



ALEJANDRO LLAMAS-DELGADO, 24, GREGORIO RAMIREZ-MALDONADO, 28, and ERICK PARRA-SALAZAR, 24, for drug trafficking-related offenses. Following a three-day trial before U.S. District Judge Joan N. Ericksen in Minneapolis, Minn., the jury found all three defendants guilty of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. In July 2017, co-defendant COLIN BLAIR MCAFEE, 46, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. All four defendants will remain in federal custody pending their sentencing hearings.







Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Hollenhorst said: “This case involved the prosecution of one of the biggest methamphetamine and cocaine traffickers in the State of Minnesota. Mr. Llamas-Delgado’s drug trafficking organization spanned many states and involved numerous drug couriers and distributors. The community is safer with him behind bars.”







As proven at trial, since at least 2014, LLAMAS-DELGADO operated a drug trafficking organization responsible for transporting and distributing methamphetamine and cocaine from Texas and California into Minnesota. RAMIREZ-MALDONADO and PARRA SALAZAR assisted LLAMAS-DELGADO by transporting approximately two kilograms of cocaine from Texas to the Twin Cities.







As proven at trial, law enforcement agents in California seized approximately 17 pounds of suspected cocaine and 25 pounds of suspected methamphetamines concealed in hidden compartments under the front seats of a 2005 Mini-Cooper that had been loaded onto a vehicle transport carrier destined for LLAMAS-DELGADO in the Twin Cities area. During the spring of 2017, law enforcement agents in the Twin Cities area conducted surveillance of LLAMAS-DELGADO and his co-conspirators that revealed multiple residences linked to the conspiracy’s drug trafficking activities. On May 15, 2017, law enforcement agents conducted simultaneous searches of several residences, resulting in the seizure of more than $40,000 in cash, 28 pounds of marijuana, over 750 grams of cocaine, a firearm, and other drug trafficking paraphernalia.



This case is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Orono Police Department, Riverside County Sheriff’s Office (California), Albertville Police Department, Brooklyn Center Police Department, Wright County Sheriff’s Office, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, the Minnesota State Patrol, and the California Highway Patrol.



Defendant Information:



ALEJANDRO LLAMAS-DELGADO, 24



Brooklyn Center, Minn.



Convicted:



Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, 1 count

Possession with intent to distribute cocaine, 1 count







GREGORIO RAMIREZ-MALDONADO, 28



Houston, Texas



Convicted:



Conspiracy to distribute cocaine, 1 count

Possession with intent to distribute cocaine, 1 count







ERICK PARRA-SALAZAR, 24



Houston, Texas



Convicted:



Conspiracy to distribute cocaine, 1 count

Possession with intent to distribute cocaine, 1 count

Guilty