A Compton man faces sentencing Thursday for running a locally based drug-trafficking organization that shipped cocaine to Alaska on commercial airline flights and through the U.S. mail.
Raul Cisneros Jr., 45, pleaded guilty in May in downtown Los Angeles to a single count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. He faces between 10 years and life in federal prison.
Cisneros was the last of eight defendants to plead guilty in the case.
According to papers filed in LA federal court, Cisneros orchestrated the drug-trafficking operation between July 2014 and August 2016. In October 2015, he was stopped by law enforcement while heading to an accomplice’s home, and was found in possession of roughly $5,000 in cash and 22 pounds of cocaine intended for sale, officials said.
A search of Cisneros’ home turned up 66 pounds of cocaine, 167 grams of crack cocaine and a pound of methamphetamine, all of which were found in his kitchen cabinets, prosecutors said. Hundreds of empty green cellophane wrappers were also found, along with a money counter. Four firearms and 72 rounds of ammunition were also located, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Another 15 pounds of cocaine was in the trunk of his car, prosecutors said. Investigators ultimately recovered more than $568,000 in cash believed to be proceeds from drug sales.