LOCAL : 6 Plead Innocent to Charges in Record Sylmar Cocaine Seizure
Six men arrested after authorities shut down a warehouse where a record 21 tons of cocaine was seized pleaded innocent to drug charges before a federal magistrate today.
The six were arrested after authorities raided the warehouse in the suburban Sylmar area Sept. 28 and seized the cocaine, the largest such confiscation in world history.
They appeared for arraignment before U.S. Magistrate John R. Kronenberg.
Pleading innocent to charges of conspiracy and intent to distribute 21 tons of cocaine were: Carlos Tapia Ponce, 68; his son, Hector Tapia Anchondo, 38; James Romero McTague, 41; Jose Ignacio Mauricio Monroy-Iniguez, 36; and Hugo Fernando Castillon Alvarez, 32.
Miguel Garcia Chavez, 34, pleaded innocent to possessing and intending to sell 20 kilos of cocaine.
Trial was scheduled for Dec. 10 in U.S. District Judge Terry Hatter’s courtroom.
All six are being held without bail. They face sentences of 10 years to life in prison and fines of up to $4 million apiece if convicted, said U.S. Attorney’s spokeswoman Grace Denton.
Authorities have said at least 60 tons of cocaine was shipped through the warehouse before the raid.
Authorities believe couriers ferried the drugs from Colombia across Mexico, entering the United States at El Paso.
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