LOS ANGELES
A Compton man who led a Southern California-based drug trafficking organization that shipped kilogram quantities of cocaine to Alaska via commercial flights and U.S. mail pleaded guilty Thursday to a federal narcotics charge.
Raul Cisneros Jr., 45, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. He has been in federal custody since October 2020.
According to his plea agreement and other court documents, from at least July 2014 to August 2016, Cisneros managed the operations of a drug trafficking outfit that sold cocaine and methamphetamine to customers.
In October 2015, law enforcement stopped Cisneros in his car while he was en route to an accomplice’s home to pick up money.
In his car, Cisneros possessed approximately $5,003 in cash, which were drug proceeds. He also possessed approximately 22.1 pounds of cocaine packaged in five separate bundles, which he intended to sell to customers.
After obtaining a search warrant for Cisneros’ home, law enforcement seized from Cisneros’ kitchen cabinets approximately 66.1 pounds of cocaine, approximately 167.7 grams of crack cocaine, and about 1.1 pounds of methamphetamine.
Law enforcement also found hundreds of empty green cellophane wrappers and a money counter, which Cisneros used to facilitate his drug distribution operation.
Law enforcement also seized from Cisneros’ kitchen four firearms and 72 rounds of ammunition during this search.
In total, agents recovered $568,357 in cash proceeds from drug deals and, in the trunk of Cisneros’ white Honda Accord vehicle, which was parked in the driveway of his residence, about 15.5 pounds of cocaine wrapped in seven packages of green cellophane stashed inside a bag.
Cisneros admitted in his plea agreement to intending to distribute the cocaine to others as part of his drug trafficking operation.
Cisneros is the final defendant to plead guilty in this case. Federal prosecutors have secured eight convictions in this matter.
U.S. District Judge Fernando M. Olguin scheduled an August 8 sentencing hearing.
Cisneros faces up to life in prison if he is convicted of the charges.
The FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Kathy Yu and Chelsea Norell of the Violent and Organized Crime Section are prosecuting this case.