Date: 08-12-2015

Case Style: United States of America v. Francisco Arrollo-Silva

Case Number: 5:14-cr-00124-FL

Judge: Louise W. Flanagan

Court: United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina (Craven County)

Plaintiff's Attorney: Glenn Perry and Kimberly Robb

Defendant's Attorney: David Smith

Description: New Bern, NC - Johnston County Trafficker Sentenced For Cocaine Conspiracy

United States District Judge Louise W. Flanagan sentenced FRANCISCO ARROLLO-SILVA, 27, of Clayton, North Carolina, to 142 months in prison and 5 years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine and laundering monetary instruments. ARROLLO-SILVA previously pled guilty to these charges on August 14, 2014.

The investigation of ARROLLO-SILVA began in April 2013 when the Drug Enforcement Administration learned that ARROLLO-SILVA planned to provide a money courier in excess of $200,000 in drug proceeds that were destined for a cocaine trafficking organization in Mexico. On April 16, 2013, ARROLLO-SILVA met with a DEA undercover agent posing as the money courier in Clayton, N.C., and gave the agent $214,801.

During the summer of 2013, agents learned that FABIO HIROCHI INOUE of Anaheim, California, was delivering multi-kilogram shipments of cocaine to ARROLLO-SILVA, JOSE LUIS MORALES-SILVA and SANTOS PENALOZA-MILLAN. On September 22, 2013 agents arrested INOUE at Raleigh Durham International Airport after seizing from his luggage 3,891 grams of cocaine that was destined for ARROLLO-SILVA, MORALES-SILVA and PENALOZA-MILLAN.

On November 4, 2013, agents used a confidential informant to buy 9 ounces of cocaine from ARROLLO-SILVA at a stash house located off of Sanders Road near Willow Springs, N.C. The informant saw an additional half kilogram of cocaine at the house. MORALES-SILVA and PENALOZA-MILLAN were also present during the cocaine sale.

On February 14, 2014, agents arrested ARROLLO-SILVA and PENALOZA-MILLAN at PENALOZA-MILLAN’S house located at 1199 S. Pleasant Coates Road in Benson, North Carolina. In the house, agents found 3.8 kilograms of cocaine, a cocaine press, a vacuum sealer, digital scales, firearms, ammunition and a shrine with statues and burning candles, commonly used by drug traffickers to protect them from being arrested.

MORALES-SILVA and PENALOZA-MILLAN have pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine; their sentencing hearings are pending. On June 10, 2015, Judge Flanagan sentenced INOUE to 51 months and 5 years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.

This case was part of OCDETF Operation “Smokin’ Aces”. Operation “Smokin’ Aces” was designed to attack the infrastructure of Mexican Drug Trafficking Organizations operating not only in the Eastern District of North Carolina, but throughout North Carolina, the United States and Mexico. These organizations are responsible for the importation of large quantities of cocaine, marijuana, and methamphetamine into the United States, as well as the related remittance of illegal drug proceeds back into Mexico.

The investigation of this case was conducted by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office, the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office, the Greenville Police Department, and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations Division.

Outcome: See above

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

Comments: