Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, James J. Hunt, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s New York Division (“DEA”), George P. Beach II, Superintendent of the New York State Police (“NYSP”), and James P. O’Neill, Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced the arrest of EDWIN CABRAL MORA, a/k/a “Sosa.” CABRAL MORA was arrested yesterday in Gwinnett County, Georgia, and was presented today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the Northern District of Georgia and detained on consent.
CABRAL MORA is charged in four counts with conspiring to possess and distribute one kilogram and more of heroin, kidnapping, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, and brandishing a firearm in connection with these offenses. In relation to the kidnapping counts, CABRAL MORA is charged with luring an individual (“Victim-1”) from New York to Georgia, where Victim-1 was transported by car to an apartment in which CABRAL MORA and others blindfolded, bound, beat, and tortured Victim-1 by burning Victim-1’s skin.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: “As alleged, Edwin Cabral Mora not only trafficked in large quantities of heroin, but turned to violence, including participating in a vicious kidnapping. In April of this year, Mora allegedly lured a victim from the Bronx to Georgia, ultimately blindfolding, beating, and torturing the victim. Thanks to the remarkable efforts of the DEA, this allegedly dangerous man is now off the streets and will face criminal charges in New York federal court.”
DEA Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt said: “DEA’s REDRUM Group specializes in tracking down drug traffickers that cross the line into kidnapping, torture and at times, murder. This investigation took the team on the road to Atlanta to arrest Edwin Cabral Mora for his alleged crimes.”
State Police Superintendent George P. Beach II said: “Thanks to the hard work and partnership of law enforcement at the federal, state and local level, we are taking out a violent drug operation. This arrest should send the message that we will continue to aggressively pursue criminals who profit from illegal drugs at the expense of the safety and security of our neighborhoods.”
NYPD Commissioner James P. O’Neill said: “The defendant in this case is an alleged drug trafficker who blindfolded, burned, beat and finally tortured a kidnapping victim in a particularly heinous crime. I am thankful to the NYPD detectives, DEA agents, and others whose work resulted in these charges in the Southern District.”
As alleged in the Indictment[1]:
Heroin Trafficking
CABRAL MORA conspired with others to distribute substantial quantities of heroin from at least January 2016 through May 2016, in the Southern District of New York and elsewhere.
Kidnapping and Kidnapping Conspiracy
CABRAL MORA conspired with others to kidnap Victim-1, and did kidnap Victim-1 in April 2016. CABRAL MORA called Victim-1 by phone, when Victim-1 was in the Bronx, New York, to lure Victim-1 to Georgia. Once in Georgia, Victim-1 was transported by car to an apartment in which CABRAL MORA and others blindfolded, bound, beat, and tortured Victim-1 by burning Victim-1’s skin.
Firearms Possession
CABRAL MORA used, possessed, carried, and brandished firearms in relation to his heroin trafficking and kidnapping offenses.
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CABRAL MORA, 38, of Gwinnett County, Georgia, is charged with conspiring to possess and distribute one kilogram and more of heroin, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison, kidnapping, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison, and brandishing a firearm in connection with the foregoing offenses, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.
The statutory maximum sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court.
Mr. Bharara praised the outstanding investigative work of the DEA, and also thanked the Georgia State Police, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and Atlanta HIDTA Groups 1 and 2 for their assistance.
The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sagar K. Ravi and Amanda L. Houle are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment, and the description of the Indictment set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.