International Cocaine Ring Had Ties to Woodbridge Area

A federal grand jury has indicted 12 members of a violent international cocaine ring that has ties in Prince William County.

Gregoria “Goyo” Delgado-Salinas, 27, of Alexandria, was the regional leader of the cocaine ring, said United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Neil H. MacBride.

Goyo was arrested in May and charged with conspiracy to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. He faces life in prison if convicted.

MacBride said this case is part of an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation called Operation Springfield Snow that started in November 2008. The mission was to target Virginia cells of the Mexico-based international cocaine ring. MacBride said 53 people have been arrested as part of this investigation, including Goyo.

The cocaine ring operated in Prince William County and members waited at local hotels to collect money or deliver drugs. Police used confidential informants and filed warrants to tap phones and ping cellphones to gain as much information about the Virginia operation.

In late 2010, law enforcement officials had surveillance on Woodbridge resident Jesus Sanchez-Orozco for alleged cocaine distribution.

On Nov. 15, 2010, police intercepted a call that they believed was a drug deal between Goyo and Orozco. The FBI arrested Orozco, who pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to conspiring to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine.

In January, investigators learned from an informant that Goyo was getting two to three kilograms of cocaine from Mexico, according to court records. The couriers would swallow the cocaine to transport it from state to state. Court records state that the couriers would meet Goyo at Northern Virginia hotels to trade off the cocaine that would be distributed throughout the region.

On Jan. 21, a man was arrested in San Diego with 800 grams of cocaine. The man became the second informant for the investigation. Court records state he told investigators that he and another courier smuggled 1,200 grams of cocaine to Goyo’s associates in Baltimore. Court records state the informant told police that Goyo then had him wait for payment at a Woodbridge hotel.

Court records state that members of the cocaine ring collected several cocaine debts at a Manassas hotel in May, when police intercepted another call in which Goyo discussed trading drugs for a “cut-off” rifle.

Court records state that police also intercepted another call in which a ring member talked about shooting someone who owed money.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and the FBI’s Washington Field Office led the investigation, with help from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Alexandria Police Department, Fairfax County Police Department, Prince William County Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals Service.

The case is set for trial on Feb. 7, 2012.