CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Investigators believe a federal drug suspect captured last week was the "head" of a large scale narcotics trafficking operation, prosecutors said Monday.
Six accused of conspiring to distribute more than 100 kilos of drugs
The information came out during a detention hearing for Laurentino Benitez. Benitez is charged in a drug conspiracy and money laundering indictment along with five others.
Prosecutors said Benitez, who lived in Huntersville, ran the scheme to traffick cocaine, marijuana and heroin from Mexico into the Charlotte area. Court documents allege the crime involved 100 kilos of marijuana, 5 kilos of cocaine and an unspecified amount of heroin.
The government attorney alleged Benitez worked with Roberto Pineda-Alberran to get the drugs to distributors.
The alleged scheme was uncovered through wiretaps on Benitez's phones. Prosecutors said they used a "roving wiretap" because Benitez was "dropping phones" to elude investigators.
The U.S. Attorneys Office said Benitez used 28 phones since May 2013. The roving wiretap allows authorities to track any devices an individual uses without getting a new wiretap for each method of communication.
Former FBI Assistant Director Chris Swecker told Eyewitness News the roving wiretap is geared toward drug trafficking and terrorism cases.
"If they dump their phone after a week then you have to go through the whole process all over again," said Swecker. "But for these roving statutes they are designed to keep the investigation going."
Benitez defense attorney called Benitez's son Laurentino Jr. to the stand to testify on his father's behalf. Benitez Jr. said his father didn't have family in Mexico or any reason to flee to the area.
The defense attorney, Rob Heroy, argued Benitez should be released on bond.
However, Magistrate Judge David Keesler disagreed and ordered Benitez detained pending further proceedings. Keesler called the evidence unveiled so far "ominous."
Benitez could face a maximum of life in prison if convicted.
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