Seven individuals have been sentenced for their involvement in distributing fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other drugs in and beyond the metro-Atlanta area. Karla Lopez-Delgado, identified as the leader of the group, was also found guilty of possessing methamphetamine intended for distribution at a residence where a minor was present.
“This case underscores our Office’s unwavering commitment to dismantle drug trafficking networks that threaten our communities with deadly substances,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr. “And the convictions that our Office and our federal and local partners achieved in this case further amplify our collective determination to relentlessly pursue and prosecute those who profit by distributing the drugs that harm our citizens. I commend the exceptional work of our law enforcement partners in bringing these defendants to justice.”
“Drug dealers who poison our communities will be held accountable. These sentences serve as a warning to anyone who thinks they can profit off addiction — we will find you, and you will be prosecuted,” said Steven N. Schrank, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama. “HSI and our partners remain relentless in our fight to shut down drug operations and protect the safety of our streets.”
According to Acting U.S. Attorney Moultrie, the investigation, which began in 2022 by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), revealed Lopez-Delgado was running a drug trafficking operation with assistance from Jonathon Torres-Aguirre, while he was incarcerated at Washington State Prison in Davisboro, Georgia. Throughout the investigation, agents seized methamphetamine and fentanyl from Lopez-Delgado’s customers on multiple occasions.
A search of Lopez-Delgado’s apartment in Dunwoody revealed substantial quantities of drugs and conversations regarding drug activities with Torres-Aguirre. The U.S. District Judge Steven D. Grimberg sentenced the following individuals based on their guilty pleas:
- Karla Lopez-Delgado: 19 years, eight months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
- Jonathon Torres-Aguirre: 12 years, seven months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
- Marco Camacho-Escobar: 10 years, one month in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
- Issac Duran-Gomez: Three years, seven months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
- Carlos Santiago: Five years, three months in prison, followed by four years of supervised release.
- Bennie Shelton: Three years, ten months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
- Kiara Jones: One year of home detention, followed by three years of supervised release.
The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from several law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Secret Service and the United States Marshals Service. The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew R. LaGrone, along with former Assistant United States Attorney Tyler Mann.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration, cartels, and transnational criminal organizations. It is also part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which focuses on targeting significant criminal trafficking and money laundering organizations in the region.