Crime & Safety

Drug Deal Ripoff Defendant Given 15 Years in Prison

The tale of a drug deal that nearly turned into a kidnapping and theft at the Shell gas station convenience store comes to an end with the sentencing to federal prison of the final defendant.

by Bob Pepalis (Editor) 

The last of seven defendants found guilty of trying to steal cocaine and marijuana outside of a Cartersville Shell Station from a man whom he thought was a drug dealer was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison today, July 25.

Ospicio Olea Aguilar has been sentenced after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to attempt to commit a robbery and one count of possessing firearms in relation to the robbery, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office. Aquilar and the six other defendants were also charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana and one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. 

Aquilar and two other defendants approached a man in Marietta in October 2011 who they believed would sell them cocaine. The man had previously cooperated with law enforcement, and he contacted officers about the three men.

“These seven defendants played a risky game when they tried to rob a drug dealer at gunpoint,” U.S. Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said 

One of the defendants tried to have the drug deal in Atlanta, but were told by the man cooperating with police that he'd only go as far south as Cartersville. 

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Eventually, the three defendants asked for 5 kilograms of cocaine and 150 pounds of marijuana for a total cost of $217,500.  They agreed that the deal would take place on Nov. 2, 2011, at the Cracker Barrel restaurant off I-75 exit 290 in Cartersville.

 While the FBI Bartow-Cartersville Drug Task Force and the U.S. Marshals Service set up surveillance, they saw three men setting up their own surveillance, even moving to different locations out of agents' sight.

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When the supposed drug dealer got out of his car, one of the defendants pulled a gun on him. During a struggle for the gun, it was wrestled away and thrown under a car. The man ran into the gas station and held the doors shut, all while federal and local police were listening in as he was wired.

Agents moved in and arrested four of the suspects at the scene. The two who got away were arrested later in the day in Atlanta.

The other six defendants were sentenced to between 15 and 17 years in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release.  All of them pleaded guilty.

This case was investigated by the FBI Bartow-Cartersville Drug Task Force with assistance from the United States Marshals Service.


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