Pubdate: Tue, 26 Nov 2002
Source: Pueblo Chieftain (CO)
Copyright: 2002 The Star-Journal Publishing Corp.
Contact:  http://www.chieftain.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1613
Author:  Robert Boczkiewicz

COCAINE RING KINGPIN SENTENCED TO PRISON

DENVER - A Mexican citizen described as a leader of Pueblo's biggest 
cocaine ring was sentenced Monday to 4 1/2 years in prison.

Pascual Acosta-Hernandez, 27, had been a fugitive for more than three years 
but was caught by Pueblo police in April at a motel on North Elizabeth, 
based on a tip to Crime Stoppers.

Acosta-Hernandez was one of at least 74 suspects arrested in November 1998 
as the result of a nine-month undercover investigation, Operation Harpoon, 
by Pueblo police, sheriff's officers and the U.S. Drug Enforcement 
Administration.

More than 100 law enforcement officers, many clad in bullet-resistant gear, 
took part in raids on several homes.

Pueblo police described the drug operation as potentially violent because 
of the large sums of money involved. During the investigation, some of the 
defendants bought 25 rounds of hollow-point bullets and raced to the home 
of a confidential informant they suspected of taking a cache of their 
drugs, an undercover agent said.

Authorities said at the time that they seized $1.2 million of drugs, 45 
vehicles such as luxury cars and $63,400 in cash.

"Of the indicted defendants, he (Acostas-Hernandez) and Juan Luna-Sanchez 
were the ring leaders," the prosecutor, Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert 
Troyer, said after the sentencing by U.S. District Judge Wiley Y. Daniel. 
Luna is a fugitive, Troyer said.

Shortly after their arrests, Luna and Acosta-Hernandez were released on 
$10,000 bonds by U.S. Magistrate Judge O. Edward Schlatter and former 
magistrate Bruce Pringle.

The Acosta family was the No. 1 cocaine dealer in Southern Colorado, 
Detective Rick Lancendorfer said after the arrests.

Only about 10 of the suspects were charged with federal crimes. Others were 
prosecuted in Pueblo District Court.

In 2000, another of the federal defendants, Noe Duran-Hernandez, was 
sentenced to 37 months in prison.

Charges against a suspected ring leader, Martin Acosta-Hernandez, were 
dismissed after Daniel suppressed evidence, drugs seized by law enforcement 
officers. Troyer said the judge suppressed the evidence because authorities 
had a warrant that did not authorize them to search for drugs, only for 
documents.

Federal charges against Ralph John Valdez and Charlene Acosta were 
dismissed so they could be charged in state court. Charges against John 
Cordova were dismissed early in the case, Troyer said.

Last week, the remaining federal defendant, Juan Carlos Acosta-Hernandez, 
pleaded guilty to illegal re-entry into the United States after 
deportation. He and his brother, Pascual, were arrested at the same time at 
the motel, Deputy Police Chief John Ercul said.

Juan Carlos is to be sentenced later. Troyer said the drug charges (against 
him) had to be dropped because evidence became old with the passing of time.

Pascual is to be deported upon release from prison. He could have been 
sentenced to 71 months in prison.

A probation officer and Troyer recommended the 57-month sentence, the 
bottom of the sentencing range.
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