 Jorge Olivo Two Falcon Field cocaine smugglers are headed to prison for at least 20 years apiece.
Jorge Olivo, 24, of Roswell, Ga., and Rene Perez, 32, of San Marcos, Texas, both pleaded guilty Tuesday to felony charges of conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute 173 kilograms of cocaine, which had been flown from Texas to the Peachtree City Georgia Airport.
Olivo also pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to distribute cocaine and to possessing a weapon in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
The case against a third defendant, Adrian Perez, 23, also of San Marcos, Texas, is still pending. Donald Fontana, the 68-year-old pilot of the plane that allegedly delivered the drugs, is expected to go to trial.
Olivo and Rene Perez delivered their pleas Tuesday in Newnan federal court. Sentencing for the pair is scheduled for March 23, in Newnan, before United States District Judge Jack T. Camp. Minimum sentencing guidelines indicate both will receive prison terms of more than two decades.
“Together with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to fight the influx of dangerous drugs into our community,� said acting United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates.
“The drugs transported by these defendants could have damaged thousands of lives. Vigilant law enforcement prevented this from happening. Now these defendants face decades in prison.�
Law enforcement officials said this case will serve as a warning to those who continue to ship drugs through the Atlanta area.
“Traffickers who seek to use Atlanta as a transshipment point for their narcotics will face the same fate as Olivo and Perez,� said Kenneth A. Smith, Special Agent in Charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in Atlanta.
On August 29 of last year, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Atlanta received information regarding a plane that would be arriving that day at Falcon Field in Peachtree City. Agents observed the Cessna aircraft land at Falcon Field and then saw the pilot, Fontana, and two passengers, adrian Perez and Rene Perez, exit the plane and offload several bags from the aircraft. Agents maintained surveillance as Fontana was dropped off at the Sleep Inn and the Perezes and were dropped off at a local Best Western hotel along with the bags that had been removed from the plane.
Approximately one hour later, another vehicle arrived at the Best Western hotel driven by Olivo. Agents observed Olivo place the same bags into the vehicle outside. Olivo then left then drove away after the bags had been loaded. Peachtree City Police attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle, but Olivo observed the marked police car approaching and fled the scene at a high rate of
speed.
After a lengthy chase through central Fayette County, the police apprehended Olivo and searched the vehicle. The
search revealed several bags containing approximately 173 kilograms (over 380 pounds) cocaine. Olivo was also found to be carrying a .38 caliber handgun on his person at the time of the stop.
Olivo, Rene Perez, Adrian Perez and Donald Fontana were indicted by a federal grand jury on October 7.
Olivo could receive a maximum sentence of life in prison and a fine of up to $4,000,000. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in prison. Rene Perez could receive a maximum sentence of life in prison and a fine of up to $4,000,000. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison.
“This investigation is the result of
the continued cooperation with our law enforcement partners to target narcotics
smuggling and money laundering organizations operating in and around Atlanta,� said Fayette County District Attorney Scott Ballard.
“The success of this investigation is the direct result of the excellent work and cooperation between ICE, the Fayette County Sheriff's Office, the Fayette County District Attorney's Office, the Peachtree City Police Department and the United States Attorney's Office. I am proud of the cooperation on this case between local and federal law enforcement agencies. It is comforting to know that there are multiple layers of protection for the citizens against drug smugglers.�
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