A California man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after federal investigators connected him to a cocaine distribution network based in Baltimore. According to court records, the charges followed a Drug Enforcement Administration investigation that began back in 2023.
Authorities said Mario Valencia Birruetta, age 35, of Corning, California, took part in transporting large volumes of cocaine across Maryland. During the investigation, agents observed his travel to Baltimore, watching meetings, cash movements, and possible links to stash houses.
How the DEA Investigation Unfolded
The investigation started in 2023 after agents learned that a group in Baltimore was selling large quantities of cocaine. Court documents say Valencia Birruetta was later identified as being connected to that group, and authorities placed his name on a flight watch list to track his travel.
In August 2023, a commercial airline notified law enforcement that he was headed to Baltimore. Agents then kept watch on his stay at the Hamilton Residence hotel from Aug. 15 through Aug. 24, noting meetings with suspected traffickers who showed up carrying bags.
Investigators also saw him handling what looked like large amounts of cash before entering a bank, where he appeared to deposit money. When he left Baltimore on Aug. 24, agents learned he planned to return, so they kept the investigation moving forward without stopping.
Airport Arrival and Stash House Surveillance
On Aug. 30, 2023, investigators saw Valencia Birruetta arrive at BWI Airport, secure a rental car, and drive to the same Baltimore hotel as before. At the same time, a different team was keeping steady watch over a suspected stash house in Baltimore County.
Agents later observed a co-conspirator collect him from the hotel and travel to National Harbor, where they met another person briefly. From there, they drove to the stash house, and officers watched as duffel bags were taken from the car.
When officers stepped in, they noticed one bag torn open, exposing kilogram packages inside. Court documents say 43 kilograms of cocaine were seized at the scene and 32 more inside the residence, along with marijuana and three firearms.
Cocaine Seizure and Sentencing Outcome
According to court filings, investigators ultimately confiscated 75 kilograms of cocaine taken from the car and from inside the home. In addition to the drugs, agents recovered marijuana, three firearms, and tools used to handle and package large quantities meant for distribution.
Prosecutors said the amount involved showed this was organized trafficking, not small street-level activity. The Maryland State’s Attorney’s Office confirmed that the evidence gathered through months of surveillance formed the core of the federal case against Valencia Birruetta.
He was sentenced this month to 10 years in prison for his role in the trafficking group. Officials stated that the sentence serves as a warning that interstate drug operations will face serious penalties when federal investigations result in formal prosecution.
Endnote
When large drug trafficking cases surface, people start talking again about how these networks cross state borders and what the right solution might be. Federal officials argue that joint efforts help cut off supply chains, but some critics believe long sentences alone may not lower demand.
Authorities note that flights, rented vehicles, and planned meetups show how organized groups adjust their methods fast. With federal and local partners still cooperating closely, future investigations will probably target similar patterns, and prosecutors confirm multistate operations stay high on their agenda.