Calipatria inmate pleads guilty to drug trafficking

NEWARK, N.J. — A 32-year-old Calipatria State Prison inmate accused of having coordinated narcotics trafficking from his cell in 2015 recently pleaded guilty to a two-count federal indictment.

Luis Calderon pleaded guilty on April 16 to an indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine.

Calderon, a reputed MS-13 gang member who goes by the moniker “Lagrimas,” reportedly had directed fellow gang members in both Los Angeles and Middlesex County, N.J., to distribute the narcotics and share the proceeds with him, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement reported.

The guilty plea followed an investigation by ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations, which determined Calderon reportedly used multiple contraband cellular telephones to communicate with conspirators outside the prison.

In October 2015, Calderon and his unnamed conspirators settled on a plan to ship narcotics from Los Angeles to Middlesex County.

Prior to the narcotic package’s shipment, Calderon informed one of the individuals to expect a package containing four ounces each of heroin and cocaine, and that the package would also likely contain two ounces or more of crystal methamphetamine, HSI reported.

That shipment was subsequently intercepted on Nov. 4, 2015, by HSI investigators, who discovered approximately 95.5 grams of heroin, 54.7 grams of cocaine, and 52.4 grams of methamphetamine hidden inside a box of Little Debbie Swiss Rolls.

The total cost of the narcotics was $9,000, which the conspirator was directed to repay Calderon, while keeping the proceeds of the illicit sales.

Calderon faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, a maximum sentence of life in prison and a $10 million fine. Sentencing is scheduled for June 25.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey expressed gratitude toward HSI special agents, as well as ICE’s Enforcement Removal Operations, Calipatria State Prison, the Plainfield (New Jersey) Police Department, the Union County (New Jersey) Prosecutor’s Office, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.