United States of America v. Marco Laboy-Torres

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with engaging in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy in violation of 21 U.S.C. 841.

Reported by: Kent Morlan

Marco Laboy-Torres, age 47, of York, Pennsylvania, was accused of participating in a criminal conspiracy where cocaine where over five kilograms of cocaine were delivered by mail from Puerto Rico and trafficked in York. Laboy-Torres also possessed a short-barreled firearm in connection with the drug trafficking conspiracy.

The primary federal statute governing cocaine trafficking is 21 U.S. Code § 841, which makes it illegal to knowingly or intentionally manufacture, distribute, dispense, or possess with intent to manufacture, distribute, or dispense a controlled substance.

Federal penalties depend heavily on the type of cocaine.

Powder Cocaine:

5-year mandatory minimum (up to 40 years): Involves 500 grams to 5 kilograms of a mixture containing cocaine.

10-year mandatory minimum (up to life imprisonment): Involves 5 kilograms or more of a mixture containing cocaine.

The Defendant was found guilty and was sentenced to 144 months in prison.