"I'm guilty 100 percent," Calderon said through a Spanish-speaking interpreter in U.S. Magistrate Judge John Love's court.Juan Camacho Calderon, 40, a suspected leader in the organization, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess and distribute 500 grams or more of meth, 5 kilograms or more of cocaine and more than 1,000 marijuana plants, from December 2004 through Oct. 11, 2007. He faces 10 years to life in prison. Calderon admitted that the cocaine and meth were acquired from Mexico and sold in Tyler and the surrounding area. He admitted he was a leader in the conspiracy. On Oct. 11, 2007, Calderon told Maria Lopez that he thought someone was following him and told her to gather a kilogram of cocaine, a rifle, ammunition and about $27,400 from his ranch, at 10570 Farm-to-Market Road 14 in Smith County, and hide them, court documents state. Also located at his ranch were two shotguns, two rifles, a revolver and more than 240 rounds of various ammunitions.
Calderon is represented by U.S. Public Defender Ken Hawk, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Allen Hurst is prosecuting the case. The defendant was charged with 20 others in a 37-count indictment after a yearslong investigation, dubbed "Operation Thin Ice," netted $24,000 in cash, 15 firearms, ammunition, 3.5 pounds of meth, 6 kilograms of cocaine and drug paraphernalia.
On March 12, Andres Sosa-Saucedo, also known as "Llantas," 39, pleaded guilty to the conspiracy and admitted he sold 57 grams of cocaine at his business, Andrew's Used Tires, 6164 Reynolds Road in Tyler. Sosa-Saucedo had a recorded telephone conversation with Calderon in which Calderon asked him to find customers who would buy larger amounts of cocaine, but he found none. Sosa-Saucedo said Calderon talked about horses and colts, but he knew colts referred to cocaine. In the conspiracy, defendants allegedly obtained meth and cocaine from multiple sources and grew marijuana to sell out of their homes and the tire business. They also allegedly sold weapons and used firearms to protect the drug business. The government is seeking forfeiture of the cash and guns, as well as six properties in Smith County.
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