38 Charged in Alleged Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

Greensboro, NC - A federal indictment charging 38 defendants with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine hydrochloride was unsealed today, announced United States Attorney Sandra J. Hairston of the Middle District of North Carolina.

The indictment charges the following individuals with narcotics distribution conspiracy:

[1] NICHOLAS TYLER CURRY, age 30, of Mount Gilead, NC, also known as "Hundough" and "Hondo";

[2] EMMANUEL MARTIMIANO LEON-SOTO, age 44, of Naco, Mexico, also known as "Manny," "Jose Manuel Lopez-Castro," "Jesus Lopez Castro," "Pedro Beltran Zazueta," "Pedro Zazueta Beltran," "Emmanuel Gomez," "Emanuel Leon," "Emanuel Leon-Soto," "Manuel Leon Soto," "Jose Manuel Lopez Castro," and "Emanuel Pena Gomez";

[3] JIMMY MENDOZA ARENAS, age 36, of Phoenix, AZ, also known as "Gordo," "Jay Jay," and "JJ";

[4] CRANDALL ORTAIS INGRAM, age 32, of High Point, NC, also known as "Turk";

[5] KELLY EMANUEL HARRINGTON, JR., age 31, of Candor, NC;

[6] ERICK LEMAR POLLARD, age 42, of Candor, NC, also known as "Black" and "E";

[7] JERRY MCCLURE, JR., age 40, of Winston-Salem, NC;

[8] ANTHONY OKURTIS RASHAD LLOYD, age 29, of High Point, NC, also known as "Ant";

[9] CHRISTOPHER TRELONNIE EVERETTE, age 31, of Candor, NC, also known as "Bank Rich" and "Bank";

[10] DAMON LEE INGRAM, age 46, of Candor, NC, also known as "Danky";

[11] TRENT DASHUN STARNES, age 28, of Mount Gilead, NC, also known as "Trinidad";

[12] CARMEN VALENZUELA, age 37, of Glendale, AZ;

[13] IVANGIANNI VALENZUELA GONZALEZ, age 20, of Glendale, AZ;

[14] RAY COZART, JR., age 29, of Jackson Springs, NC, also known as "The Mayor," "Bigrayful DaMayor," "Big Rayful," and "Rayful";

[15] SAMMY SOQUI, age 36, of Tucson, AZ;

[16] BERNARD ESQUIRE CAIN, age 33, of Winston-Salem, NC;

[17] ABEL GEBREHIWET ZERATSION, age 30, of Winston-Salem, NC;

[18] NIKONDA TAYE INGRAM, age 31, of High Point, NC, also known as "Slatt" and "Big Boy";

[19] CHARLES EUGENE ROBBINS, age 65, of Phoenix, AZ;

[20] ADAN VILLAREAL-GRAJEDA, age 39, of Phoenix, AZ;

[21] JORGE ANTONIO LOPEZ-VALDEZ, age 18, of Glendale, AZ;

[22] LEWIS RONDEZ PRATT, age 34, of Candor, NC;

[23] ADRIAN DEVON HILL, age 54, of Lenoir, NC;

[24] PRECIOUS SEQUILA HERRON, age 28, of Tucson, AZ;

[25] SHAINA ALEAH HUNT, age 27, of Fairmont, NC;

[26] SCOTTIE PERETT STANBACK, age 43, of Jackson Springs, NC;

[27] AHMAD RASHAUN SAUNDERS, age 31, of Winston-Salem, NC, also known as "Heart";

[28] CORNEILLOUS DEONTE STALEY, age 33, of Ellerbe, NC, also known as "Sosa";

[29] SANIYAH JENAY MCCORKLE, age 19, of Cherryville, NC;

[30] AMYA KYONNA GORDON, age 21, of Mount Gilead, NC;

[31] KATEY ANN LAMONDS, age 26, of Mount Gilead, NC;

[32] GERMAN LOPEZ-GOMEZ, age 22, of Phoenix, AZ;

[33] XAVIER FABRICE ELLIS, age 27, of Jackson Springs, NC, also known as "Zay";

[34] CAMARIUS KISON PHILLIPS, age 22, of Candor, NC, also known as "CBo";

[35] CODY ANTHONY CURRY, age 29, of Tucson, AZ, also known as "Boss Curry," "El Jefe," and "Boss Man";

[36] TERELL MYHIEM BALDWIN, age 22, of Troy, NC, also known as "Backstreet";

[37] MICHAEL WILLIAM CURTIS, age 49, of Archdale, NC; and

[38] JUSTIN RAND ALLEN, age 35, of Candor, NC.

The indictment also charges 10 of the defendants named above with conspiracy to launder the proceeds of the drug trafficking scheme. Those charged with money laundering conspiracy include NICHOLAS TYLER CURRY, EMMANUEL MARTIMIANO LEON-SOTO, JIMMY MENDOZA ARENAS, CRANDALL ORTAIS INGRAM, ANTHONY OKURTIS RASHAD LLOYD, TRENT DASHUN STARNES, CARMEN VALENZUELA, PRECIOUS SEQUILA HERRON, SHAINA ALEAH HUNT, and CODY ANTHONY CURRY.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

If convicted, the defendants face up to life in prison for narcotics conspiracy, and up to 20 years for money laundering conspiracy. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

As of today, 37 of the 38 defendants are in custody. Of 26 defendants arrested today, 18 will have initial court appearances today or tomorrow before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joi E. Peake of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina (MDNC). Eight defendants were arrested outside the MDNC and will have initial appearances in the districts of arrest. Eleven other defendants-NICHOLAS TYLER CURRY, JIMMY MENDOZA ARENAS, CRANDALL ORTAIS INGRAM, JERRY MCCLURE, JR., BERNARD ESQUIRE CAIN, ABEL GEBREHIWET ZERATSION, ADAN VILLAREAL-GRAJEDA, LEWIS RONDEZ PRATT, AHMAD RASHAUN SAUNDERS, GERMAN LOPEZ-GOMEZ, and CAMARIUS KISON PHILLIPS-are currently in federal or state custody on related charges and will be arraigned on these charges at a later date. One defendant remains at large.

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

Investigating agencies include the United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, United States Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Marshals Service, North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement, Moore County Sheriff's Office, Harnett County Sheriff's Office, Fayetteville Police Department, Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, Stanly County Sheriff's Office, Candor Police Department, and Mesa (Arizona) Police Department.

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