LOS ANGELES – Raul Cisneros Jr., a 45-year-old resident of Compton, has pleaded guilty to a federal narcotics charge for his role as the leader of a Southern California-based drug trafficking organization.
The organization was responsible for transporting large quantities of cocaine from California to Alaska using commercial flights and U.S. mail.
Guilty Plea and Charges Cisneros pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. He has been in federal custody since October 2020.
His plea agreement and other court documents reveal his involvement in managing the operations of a drug trafficking network that distributed both cocaine and methamphetamine.
Operations and Seizures Between July 2014 and August 2016, Cisneros was actively involved in the drug trade. In October 2015, he was intercepted by law enforcement while en route to an accomplice’s home to collect money.
According to the source, during this stop, officers discovered approximately $5,003 in cash, which were proceeds from drug sales. They also found 10 kilograms (22.1 pounds) of cocaine, packaged in five separate bundles, intended for distribution.
Following this, a search warrant executed at Cisneros’ residence led to the discovery of a substantial quantity of narcotics. Law enforcement found approximately 30.7 kilograms (66.1 pounds) of cocaine, 167.7 grams of crack cocaine, and 3.6 kilograms (1.1 pounds) of methamphetamine hidden in his kitchen cabinets.
Additionally, they seized hundreds of used empty green cellophane wrappers and a money counter, indicating the scale of Cisneros’ drug distribution operation.
Firearms and Cash Proceeds The search also uncovered four firearms and 72 rounds of ammunition in Cisneros’ kitchen. Furthermore, agents recovered a total of $568,357 in cash proceeds from drug transactions.
In the trunk of Cisneros’ white Honda Accord, parked in his driveway, they found approximately 7.02 kilograms (15.5 pounds) of cocaine wrapped in green cellophane and stashed inside a bag.
Admissions and Legal Proceedings Cisneros admitted in his plea agreement that he intended to distribute the cocaine as part of his drug trafficking operation. He is the final defendant to plead guilty in this case, with federal prosecutors having secured eight convictions overall.
Sentencing and Investigations United States District Judge Fernando M. Olguin has scheduled a sentencing hearing for August 8, where Cisneros will face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration, with substantial assistance from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
This case was supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), which employs a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach to identify, disrupt, and dismantle high-level criminal organizations threatening the United States.
Prosecution and OCDETF Assistant United States Attorneys Kathy Yu and Chelsea Norell of the Violent and Organized Crime Section are prosecuting the case.
The OCDETF Program is crucial in tackling serious organized crime, using comprehensive strategies to address complex drug trafficking operations.
For more information about the OCDETF Program, visit justice.gov/OCDETF.
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