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Date: 03-18-2019
Case Style:
United States of America v. Omar Gutierrez-Valle
Case Number: 4:18-cr-40011-SLD
Judge:
Court: United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois (Rock Island County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: Don Allegro and Alyssa Raya
Defendant's Attorney:
Call 888-354-4529 if you need a criminal defense drug case lawyer in Rock Island, Illinois.
Description:
Rock Island, IL - Jury Convicts Michigan Man for Trafficking Cocaine, Heroin from California to Midwest
A jury deliberated for two hours before returning guilty verdicts on all counts against Omar Gutierrez-Valle, 30, of Michigan, for his role in a conspiracy to traffic heroin and cocaine. Chief U.S. District Judge Sara Darrow presided over the trial which began on March 11.
Over four days of testimony, the government presented evidence that Gutierrez-Valle was involved in a Mexico and California-based conspiracy to transport cocaine and heroin across the Mexican border into California and thereafter to the Midwest and elsewhere:
In January and February 2017, Gutierrez-Valle worked with an unnamed California coordinator to move a shipment of 10 kilograms of cocaine and one kilogram of heroin to the Midwest. The California coordinator had paid to illegally smuggle a Mexican national into the United States. To pay off his debt relative to being smuggled into the U.S., the coordinator told him that he was to help Gutierrez-Valle meet a courier in the Chicago area to receive a shipment of drugs. The coordinator brought the Mexican national from Los Angeles to Chicago via Amtrak and the coordinator returned to California, where he provided an over the road truck driver with the load of drugs.
On the day of the expected meeting and delivery, Feb. 26, 2017, the Illinois State Police stopped the truck driver in Henry County, Ill., for a motor vehicle safety inspection. The trooper discovered the 10 kilograms of cocaine and one kilogram of heroin in the truck. Police then arranged for the truck to proceed to the agreed delivery location, a truck stop off I-80 near LaSalle, Ill., where Gutierrez-Valle met the truck to receive the drugs.
Judge Darrow scheduled sentencing for Gutierrez-Valle on July 11, 2019. Gutierrez-Valle remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since his arrest in May 2018.
At sentencing, Gutierrez-Valle faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years to life for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute at least five kilograms of cocaine and at least one kilogram of heroin.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Illinois State Police, Black Hawk Area Task Force, and Quad Cities Metropolitan Enforcement Group investigated the charges.
Charges:
21:846=ND.F: CONSPIRACY TO DISTRIBUTE NARCOTICS- From an unknown date but beginning during or about January 2017 or early February 2017, and continuing to on or about February 26, 2017, in Henry County, Illinois, the defendant did knowingly and intentionally conspire with other persons to knowingly distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, at least 5 kilograms of cocaine, and at least 1 kilogram of heroin, in violation of 21 USC 846.
(1)
CONSPIRACY TO DISTRIBUTE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE - From an unknown date but beginning during or about January of 2017 or early February of 2017, and continuing to on or about March 21, 2017, in Henry County, Illinois, the defendant did knowingly and intentionally conspire with other persons to knowingly distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, at least 5 kilograms of a mixture and substance containing cocaine, and at least 1 kilogram of a mixture and substance containing heroin, in violation of 21 USC §§ 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(A), and 846.
(1s)
21:841A=ND.F- NARCOTICS - SELL, DISTRIBUTE, OR DISPENSE: On or about February 26, 2017, in Henry County in the Central District of Illinois, the defendant the defendant did knowingly and intentionally conspire with other persons to knowingly distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, at least 5 kilograms of cocaine, and at least 1 kilogram of heroin, in violation of 21 USC 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A), and 18 USC Section 2.
(2)
CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE - SELL, DISTRIBUTE, OR DISPENSE - On or about February 26, 2017, in Henry County, Illinois, the defendant did knowingly and intentionally possess with intent to distribute at least 5 kilograms of a mixture and substance containing cocaine, and at least 1 kilogram of a mixture and substance containing heroin, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A), 846 and 18 U.S.C. § Section 2.
(2s)
Outcome: 03/14/2019 Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge Sara Darrow on Thursday 3/14/2019 as to Omar Gutierrez-Valle for continued Jury Trial. Parties present in open court by AUSAs Raya and Allegro and Attorneys Brindley and Thompson with Defendant Gutierrez-Valle. Jurors return to open court at 8:45 a.m. Baliffs sworn (4). Deliberations begin at 8:47 a.m. Alternate jurors (2) excused at 8:48 a.m. Jury note submitted at 11:00 a.m. Parties reconvene at 11:10 a.m. to discuss jury note. Parties recess at 11:16 a.m. Jurors reach verdict at 12:30 p.m. Court reconvenes at 12:44 p.m. Verdict read in open court: We the jury, find the defendant, Omar Gutierrez-Valle, guilty of the charge offense of Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute a Mixture and Substance Containing Cocaine or a Mixture and Substance containing Heroin, as alleged in Count One of the Superseding Indictment (5 kilograms or more of cocaine and 100 grams or more of heroin); and, We the jury, find the defendant, Omar Gutierrez-Valle, guilty of the charge offense of Possession with Intent to Distribute a Mixture and Substance Containing Cocaine or a Mixture and Substance containing Heroin, as alleged in Count Two of the Superseding Indictment (5 kilograms or more of cocaine and 100 grams or more of heroin). " Jurors polled. Clerk is directed to file the verdict. Jurors excused at 12:48 p.m. This matter is referred to the USPO for a presentence investigation and report. Sentencing set for 7/11/2019 at 1:30 p.m. in U.S. Courthouse,131 E 4th Street, Davenport, IA 52801 before Judge Sara Darrow. Court adjourns at 12:50 p.m. Defendant Gutierrez-Valle is remanded to custody of the USM. (Court Reporter JJ.) (ED, ilcd) (Entered: 03/15/2019)
03/14/2019 39 JURY VERDICT. (ED, ilcd) (Entered: 03/15/2019)
03/14/2019 40 +++ SEALED DOCUMENT - ORIGINAL DOCUMENT VERDICT UNREDACTED (ED, ilcd) (Entered: 03/15/2019)
03/14/2019 Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings as to Omar Gutierrez-Valle: Sentencing set for 7/11/2019 AT 01:30 p.m. in U.S. Courthouse,131 E 4th Street, Davenport, IA 52801 before Chief Judge Sara Darrow. (ED, ilcd) (Entered: 03/15/2019)
03/14/2019 41 CLERK'S EXHIBIT LIST. (ED, ilcd) (Entered: 03/15/2019)
03/14/2019 42 STIPULATIONS. (ED, ilcd) (Entered: 03/15/2019)
03/14/2019 43 +++ SEALED DOCUMENT - ORIGINAL DOCUMENT STIPULATIONS UNREDACTED (ED, ilcd) (Entered: 03/15/2019)
03/14/2019 44 Jury Notes. (ED, ilcd) (Entered: 03/15/2019)
03/14/2019 45 +++ SEALED DOCUMENT - ORIGINAL DOCUMENT JURY NOTES UNREDACTED (ED, ilcd) (Entered: 03/15/2019)
03/14/2019 46 Jury Instructions (given to jury). (ED, ilcd) (Entered: 03/15/2019)
03/14/2019 47 Jury Instructions (working copy). (ED, ilcd) (Entered: 03/15/2019)
03/14/2019 48 Remark: Copy of Superseding Indictment sent to jury. (ED, ilcd) (Entered: 03/15/2019)
Defendant was found guilty on all counts.
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments: