News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: April 1, 2010
Carmen Coutino

Public Information Officer
(915) 832-6018

Oscar Alonso Escajeda is Sentenced to 325 Months in Prison for Drug Trafficking

APR 1 -- United States Attorney John E. Murphy and DEA Special Agent in Charge Joseph M. Arabit, announced the sentencing of Oscar Alonso Escajeda-Candelaria, aka La Gata. Escajeda was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kathleen Cardone to 325 months (27 years) for drug trafficking. Escajeda pled guilty on October 1, 2009 to possession with intent to distribute and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute over 1,000 kilograms of marijuana and over 5 kilograms of cocaine.

Escajeda was responsible for importing approximately 3,000 pounds of marijuana per month into the United States from the Republic of Mexico from 2002 through the end 2005. On January 23, 2006, Escajeda was also involved in a border incursion at Neely’s Crossing, Hudspeth County, Texas, which involved the Sheriff’s Office and Texas Department of Public Safety.

This was a joint investigation led by DEA El Paso, with assistance from the Texas Department of Public Safety, El Paso County Sheriff’s Department, El Paso Police Department, Hudspeth County Sheriff’s Department, United States Border Patrol, Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, and Oklahoma City Police Department.

The DEA El Paso Division encourages parents, and their children to visit the following interactive websites at www.justthinktwice.com, www.GetSmartAboutDrugs.com and www.dea.gov.

# # #