CA Man Sentenced For Selling Drugs In Maryland

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD — A California man has been sentenced to prison after being found guilty of conspiracy to distribute cocaine at several spots in Maryland, including National Harbor.

In 2023, an investigation was launched into a Baltimore-based drug trafficking organizationsuspected of distributing large quantities of cocaine. In July 2023, investigators learned Mario Valencia-Birruetta, 35, of Corning, Calif., was a member of the drug trafficking organization, so law enforcement placed him on a flight watch list.

On Aug. 14, 2023, a commercial airline notified investigators that Valencia-Birruetta had purchased a flight ticket headed to Baltimore the next day. Then on Aug. 15, 2023, investigators began surveilling Valencia-Birruetta, tracking his movements. While in Baltimore, Valencia-Birruetta stayed in Baltimore City.

From Aug. 15 to Aug. 24, 2023, investigators saw numerous drug traffickers meeting with Valencia-Birruetta. The drug traffickers arrived at a home in the Hamilton neighborhood with bags believed to be connected to drug trafficking activities. On one occasion, law enforcement saw Valencia-Birruetta with a stack of cash in his hand. He then drove to a bank and appeared to make a deposit, according to court documents

Then on Aug. 24, 2023, Valencia-Birruetta left Baltimore. But a week later, investigators received another notification from a commercial airline that Valencia-Birruetta planned to travel back to Baltimore. On Aug. 30, 2023, investigators set up a surveillance team at Baltimore Washington International Airport where law enforcement saw Valencia-Birruetta arrive, pick up a rental car and then drive to the Hamilton neighborhood home, prosecutors stated.

Meanwhile, another group of investigators surveilled the drug trafficking organization's stash location in Timonium. There, law enforcement observed co-conspirator 1 (CC-1) carrying bags into the stash location. Before that, co-conspirator 2 (CC-2) left the stash location in his vehicle.

Law enforcement saw CC-2 driving to the Hamilton neighborhood home to pick up Valencia-Birruetta. Investigators then followed Valencia-Birruetta and CC-2 to National Harbor where they met with co-conspirator 3 (CC-3), who arrived in another vehicle. They then traveled to a Park and Ride lot next to the National Harbor and parked next to each other. Eventually, both vehicles left the lot with Valencia-Birruetta and CC-2 traveling back to Baltimore unaware that investigators trailed behind them. They later arrived at the stash location and parked, according to court documents.

Valencia-Birruetta and CC-2 began removing duffle bags. As they continued, law enforcement approached Valencia-Birruetta and CC-2. Law enforcement realized one of the duffle bags contained a large tear that enabled investigators to see kilogram packages of drugs.

Law enforcement detained Valencia-Birruetta and CC-2 and then seized the duffle bags. Investigators recovered 43 individual kilogram packages of cocaine from the duffel bags in the vehicle. Additionally, law enforcement discovered another duffel bag and backpack containing 32 individual kilogram packages of cocaine in the stash location. Law enforcement also uncovered equipment used to process bulk drugs, including a kilo press, quick cappers, digital scales and sifters.

Additionally, investigators found two heat-sealed bags of suspected marijuana, cash, a money counter and two firearms. Investigators recovered a third firearm from the Hamilton home.

U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar sentenced Valencia-Birruetta to 121 months in prison. Valencia-Birruetta’s sentence also covers a possession with intent to distribute cocaine charge.