A South Carolina man has been sentenced to over six years in prison for his role in a drug trafficking operation that moved significant quantities of cocaine. Gerardo Calzada, aged 34, entered a guilty plea for possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and aiding and abetting, accepting a 78-month sentence that followed his October 31, 2024, plea, as announced by the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Calzada's involvement was uncovered by the Apex Police Department in 2020 after an investigation into local drug trafficking activities brought his and others' roles to light, the DEA soon joined the operation. During a July 26, 2023 surveillance, he was seen delivering a paper bag to another member of the drug trafficking organization (DTO) at a Food Lion, after they left the scene, law enforcement officials conducted a vehicle stop where they discovered two kilos of cocaine hidden inside cereal boxes, along with a digital scale, a drug ledger, and receipts for money sent to Mexico and Honduras.

This case is part of a broader effort by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) to take down high-level drug traffickers and disrupt criminal networks across the United States. The task force utilizes a collaborative approach to pool the effort and intelligence of various federal, state, and local agencies.

According to the US Attorney's Office, U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III handed down Calzada's sentence, the DEA, Apex Police Department, and Johnston County Sheriff’s Office were acknowledged for their investigation into the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly Sandling was acknowledged for her role in the prosecution, recognizing that in the courtroom, justice is determined by the efforts of those committed to upholding the law.