MEXICAN MARIJUANA TRAFFICKER SENTENCED TO LIFE
PRESS RELEASE

Susan W. Brooks, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, announced that JESUS ARREOLA-CASTILLO, 30, Espanola, New Mexico, was sentenced to life imprisonment today by U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Barker following his conviction at trial for conspiracy to distribute marijuana. This case was the result of a six-month investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Beech Grove Police Department, Indianapolis Police Department, Marion County Sheriff’ s Department.

From the spring of 2001 through August, 2004, ARREOLA supplied approximately 15,000 pounds of marijuana to a marijuana trafficking organization operating in Indianapolis. ARREOLA procured the marijuana from unknown sources in Mexico and caused the marijuana to be transported from New Mexico to Indianapolis. Other members of the marijuana trafficking organization distributed the marijuana from a residential compound known as the “ ranch,” located at 2820 West Minnesota Street, Indianapolis.

According to Assistant United States Attorney Bradley A. Blackington, who prosecuted the case for the government, ARREOLA’ s sentence was enhanced because he had sustained three prior felony convictions for drug offenses.

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