EVERETT — A federal judge charged four individuals, two of whom reside in Snohomish County, in federal court in Seattle in connection with a drug trafficking conspiracy involving cocaine and firearms.
Homeland Security Investigations agents identified the suspects over the summer as possible members of a drug trafficking conspiracy, according to a U.S. Department of Justice press release. Initially, agents identified the lead defendant, Luis Donaldo Galeana Garcia, 29, a Mexican citizen residing in Marysville, as allegedly a major drug distributor in western Washington.
In late September, law enforcement learned of Galeana Garcia’s alleged intent to exchange around 20 pounds of cocaine for 15 pounds of methamphetamine and $155,000, the release said. Three other individuals were involved in the exchange, including Juan Carlos Garnica Pacheco, 33, of Everett, Lorena Esquivel, 35, and Dustin Ray Binion, 27, both of Bellingham.
When law enforcement intervened during the drug exchange, Galeana Garcia and Garnica Pacheco abandoned their car, the release said. Officers seized various vehicles and discovered 10 kilograms of cocaine and a 9mm firearm in the center console of one of the vehicles.
Last week, officers searched the suspect’s residences, where they found both Galeana Garcia and Garnica Pacheco had multiple firearms and ammunition for semiautomatic weapons, the release said.
Monday, Magistrate Judge Kate Vaughan ordered Galeana Garcia be detained due to concerns over him being a flight risk and a danger to the community, the release said. Due to the amount of narcotics involved in the case, the suspects face a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison.
Jenna Millikan: 425-339-3035; jenna.millikan@heraldnet.com; X: @JennaMillikan
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