ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Honduran girl was sentenced at this time to twenty years in jail for her participation in a large-scale conspiracy to site visitors cocaine for importation into america.
In response to courtroom paperwork, from 2006 till 2015, Erlinda Ramos-Bobadilla, aka Chinda, 62, served as a frontrunner within the Montes-Bobadilla drug-trafficking group, or Los Montes, one of many largest drug-trafficking organizations then working in Honduras. The Los Montes drug-trafficking group was family-run and primarily based within the city of Francia on the northeastern coast of Honduras. There, the group obtained maritime and clandestine air shipments of cocaine from sources in South America. Particular person shipments of cocaine often carried tons of of – and generally greater than a thousand – kilograms of cocaine. After receiving a cargo of cocaine, Los Montes labored with different drug traffickers to move the cocaine inland by means of Honduras into Guatemala and, ultimately, Mexico, the place the cocaine would then be imported into, and distributed inside, america.
“The defendant and her household lead a harmful drug cartel that introduced 1000’s of kilograms of toxic medication into the U.S. from Honduras and left homicide, corruption, violence, and terror in its wake. EDVA prioritizes the investigation, dismantling, and prosecution of organizations like The Los Montes cartel that destroy communities throughout nations,” stated Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Lawyer for the Japanese District of Virginia. “In the present day’s sentence wouldn’t have been doable with out the coordinated efforts of our prosecutors and regulation enforcement companions who work tirelessly to cease illicit medication and violence from infiltrating our neighborhoods.”
Ramos-Bobadilla performed an energetic management position in Los Montes. Amongst different obligations, she participated within the negotiation of cocaine transactions with different drug traffickers in Central and South America, managed the proceeds that the group constituted of the sale of cocaine and, at occasions, paid sources of provide for cocaine that Los Montes bought. Ramos-Bobadilla employed armed people to work at her course and management, together with by offering safety for her and her cocaine shipments.
Ramos-Bobadilla additionally participated in procuring, planning, and arranging acts of violence, together with murders, in furtherance of the conspiracy. For instance, Los Montes and different Honduran drug-trafficking organizations conspired to finance the homicide of the top of Honduras’ anti-drug trafficking company in December 2009. In June 2013, alongside along with her son, Noe Montes-Bobadilla, and one other co-conspirator, Ramos-Bobadilla additionally participated in coordinating and directing the homicide of a everlasting resident of america in Tocoa, Honduras, in retaliation for perceived cooperation with the U.S. authorities.
Along with her participation in these acts of violence, Ramos-Bobadilla engaged in bribery in furtherance of the conspiracy. Ramos-Bobadilla and her co-conspirators made funds to public officers in Honduras, together with law enforcement officials and different regulation enforcement officers, to facilitate and defend the household’s drug-trafficking operations.
“The Montes-Bobadilla Drug Trafficking Group terrorized and poisoned communities underneath Ramos-Bobadilla’s management,” stated Jarod Neglect, Particular Agent in Cost of the DEA Washington Area Division. “In the present day’s sentencing is a testomony to the capabilities and dedication by DEA to make sure that any home or overseas prison who peddles lethal medication into our neighborhoods and places our households in danger will likely be held accountable.”
On Oct. 8, 2015, Ramos-Bobadilla and 5 co-conspirators had been charged by indictment within the Japanese District of Virginia with conspiracy to distribute 5 kilograms or extra of cocaine for importation into america. Three of Ramos-Bobadilla’s co-conspirators have been convicted and sentenced on this case:
Noe Montes-Bobadilla was sentenced in April 2019 to 37 years in jail. Arnulfo Fagot-Maximo was sentenced in Could 2019 to 33 years in jail. Jose del Trancito Garcia-Teruel was sentenced in February 2022 to 13 years in jail. One co-conspirator, Tito Montes-Bobadilla, aka Alejandro Montes-Bobadilla, aka Pimpi, is deceased.
The Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Job Power (OCDETF) supported this case.
The DEA Washington Division investigated the case with help from FBI’s Washington Area Workplace, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Safety Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C., and the Virginia State Police. The Honduran Nationwide Police additionally supplied substantial help. The Justice Division’s Workplace of Worldwide Affairs supplied substantial help in securing the arrest and extradition of Ramos-Bobadilla.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas W. Traxler, Anthony T. Aminoff, and James L. Trump of the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace for the Japanese District of Virginia and Trial Attorneys Douglas Meisel and Janet Turnbull of the Legal Division’s Narcotic and Harmful Drug Part prosecuted the case. The U.S. Lawyer’s Places of work for the Southern District of New York, the Center District of Florida, and the Southern District of Florida additionally supplied help.
A duplicate of this press launch is positioned on the web site of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Japanese District of Virginia. Associated courtroom paperwork and data are positioned on the web site of the District Court for the Japanese District of Virginia or on PACER by looking for Case No. 1:15-cr-290.