In 1993, the New York State Drug Enforcement Task Force began investigating a narcotics-trafficking ring centered at a Queens County garage known as W & G Auto Repair, which was operated by another individual. Surveillance and wiretaps revealed evidence of an interstate scheme by which cocaine was secreted in hidden automobile compartments and driven from San Francisco to New York. Defendant was the West Coast partner of the New York garage operator together with another person. A New York DWI Lawyer said another man oversaw transportation of the drugs cross-country. Defendant and his cohorts employed other individuals to drive, store and protect the drugs and equipment.
Between 13 April and 17 April of 1994, the task force intercepted a series of telephone calls defendant had with the other operators and the person in charged with the transportation about a planned shipment of cocaine from San Francisco to Queens County. The drugs were slow in arriving due to an overheated car. Task force members tried to intercept the delivery in Queens on April 17, but arrived too late at the exchange location, believed to be a McDonald’s at 204th Street and Northern Boulevard. That night, the New York Operator called defendant and told him that the transport of at least 65 kilograms of cocaine was a success.
Based on a series of calls intercepted between 13 May and 19 May 1994, the task force learned of plans to use three cars (white, blue and green) to transport cocaine from San Francisco to New York. Defendant was in New York City for four days, from May 13 to May 16, meeting with his cohorts. During his stay, he made telephone calls to his California subordinates. He gave detailed instructions to them on preparing the cocaine for shipment to New York City via automobile, and planned to pay the travel expenses of a driver.