Source: Fresno Bee, The Contact: http://www.fresnobee.com/ Pubdate: Wed, 29 Jul 1998 Author: Jerry Bier The Fresno Bee MADERA BROTHERS GET 4 YEARS FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING Two Madera brothers who headed a Valley crime organization that smuggled marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamine have been sentenced to four years in prison. Efrain and Apolinar Garcia, who had pleaded guilty in May to the federal crime of using a telephone as part of a drug-trafficking offense, were sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge Robert E. Coyle. A third brother, Raul, 54, who was alleged to be not as prominent in the organization, and a fourth defendant, Roman Garcia, 32, no relation, also were sentenced to four-year terms following earlier guilty pleas. Efrain, 30, and Apolinar, 45, and the other two men have been in custody since their arrests two years ago. They were sentenced to the maximum term allowable under federal sentencing guidelines for the one-count guilty pleas. Each had been facing from 30 years to life in prison had they been convicted at trial. At the time of their arrests, the brothers who operated the Rancho Madera restaurant in Madera, were alleged by federal investigators to be the "heads of a drug smuggling and trafficking organization that distributes more than 100 kilograms of cocaine per month and has been doing so since approximately 1988." The were originally accused in a 27-count indictment that also sought forfeiture of thousands of dollars in cash and property. As part of the plea agreement with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carolyn K. Oliver and Virna L. Santos, Efrain and Apolinar Garcia agreed to forfeit homes at 16149 and 16150 Mark Road in Madera. Raul Garcia agreed to forfeit $70,220 cash. The Garcias contended they lived on modest incomes, while prosecutors argued they lived expensive lifestyles paid for by drug profits. A fifth defendant, Felipe Guerrero, 35, is facing trial in September. - --- Checked-by: (Joel W. Johnson)