SEATTLE, WASHINGTON (BNO NEWS) – A Washington man connected with notorious Mexican drug trafficking cartel “La Familia” on Friday was sentenced to 156 months to prison, prosecutors said.

Arturo J. Barajas Garcia, 32, of of Renton, Washington, was one of sixteen people arrested in Western Washington in October 2009, following a nationwide crackdown dubbed “Project Coronado.”  

The investigation, begun in December 2008, linked the distribution of methamphetamine and cocaine to the La Familia cartel based in Michoacan, Mexico. 

Barajas Garcia was the leader of the local conspiracy, negotiating for the delivery of controlled substances with sources of supply in locations throughout the United States and Mexico. 

In the course of the investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) led task force searched 19 residences and 22 vehicles in Washington and California, and seized 27 pounds of methamphetamine, 10 kilos of cocaine, seven guns, and an estimated $150,000 in cash.

Wiretap recordings in the case reveal that Barajas Garcia directed others to transport methamphetamine from California to Washington, re-distribute it in Washington communities, and to deliver U.S. currency to pay for the narcotics.

“[Barajas Garcia] was the head of a very, very large scale conspiracy that was responsible for bringing a substantial amount of drugs into our community,” U.S. District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez said at sentencing.

“[Barajas Garcia] recruited dozens of other individuals – primarily young Mexican men with few other options – into this scheme, exploiting their various individual weaknesses to increase his profit… The quantity of drugs and money involved in this scheme is staggering, and the societal harm impossible to quantify,” the Assistant United States Attorney stated.

Garcia was sentenced to 13 years in prison and five years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and conspiracy to engage in money laundering. 

Under the terms of his plea agreement, Barajas Garcia is forfeiting any interest he has in nearly $230,000 in cash, a 2008 Chevrolet Silverado, seven guns, and property in Monroe, Washington as proceeds of the drug conspiracy.

In addition to Barajas Garcia, a number of defendants in the drug ring have already been sentenced, including: Demetrio Saldana Robles, 27, and Juan Carlos Saldana Robles, 24, both of Monroe, Washington, to six years in prison; Trent Thomas Jesmer, 32, of Monroe, to 70 months prison; Emmanuel Valdovinos Cruzaley, 27, of Renton, to 48 months in prison; and Jorge Ochoa Avila, 40, of Monroe and Uriel Baldovinos Cruzaley, 30, of Renton, who were each sentenced to 37 months in prison.

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