From: Savannah Morning News
Bluffton man sentenced for conspiracy to smuggle guns, stolen cars to Bolivia
Roberto Barrero, 46, a naturalized American citizen originally from
Bolivia, was sentenced last week by Senior Judge B. Avant Edenfield to
15 years in prison for his role in a far-reaching conspiracy whose goals
included smuggling firearms and stolen cars to Bolivia, smuggling
contraband cigarettes to New York, trafficking cocaine, and laundering
millions of dollars of drug proceeds. The organization was investigated
as part of Operation Pulaski, a long-term undercover operation that
resulted in federal charges against 45 defendants and the seizure of 188
firearms, over 200 grams of heroin, over 3 kilograms of cocaine, and 9
stolen vehicles, according to the United States Attorney’s Office,
Southern District of Georgia.
United States Attorney Edward J. Tarver stated, “Operation Pulaski was an innovative effort to fight organized criminal activity that impacts not just South Georgia, but the
entire east coast and foreign countries, as well. Smugglers, gun
runners, drug traffickers, and other criminals should take this sentence
as a warning signal that the Port of Savannah is not available to them
as a gateway to commit their crimes within the United States of
America. If they attempt to use our ports in this way, they will be
prosecuted and punished.”
“Yesterday’s sentence is a direct result of ATF and our law enforcement partners working on the frontline of preventing violent crime by leveraging technology and utilizing our expertise, resulting in a safer community for the citizens of Savannah
and the surrounding area”, said ATF Special Agent in Charge Christopher
Shaefer, “Removing firearms and the criminals who illegally use and
traffic firearms from the street makes a positive impact and contributes
to stabilizing those areas which are fraught with criminal activity.”
