Five Arlington Men Among 28 Arrested in Alleged Honduran Cocaine Ring
Group allegedly smuggled cocaine into Northern Virginia, wired money to South America
An Arlington man allegedly acted as one of four leaders of a cocaine ring that smuggled the drug into Northern Virginia, distributed it across the East Coast and wired more than $1 million back to suppliers in Honduras over several years. Twenty-eight people were charged with conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine in connection with the case, the FBI and U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia announced Wednesday. The charge carries a minimum mandatory of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison, U.S. Attorney's Office spokesman Peter Carr said. Samuel Benitez-Pineda, also known as "Wilfredo Benitez," "Roque" or "Chiripa," 34, of Arlington, was named in the case as one of four …
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