Two Malden men face federal drug charges after allegedly trying to sell kilo of cocaine to undercover agents

Both suspects held without bail after hearing; One is a Guatemalan national who re-entered U.S. illegally after being deported

Advocate Staff Report

Two Malden men are being held without bail on federal drug charges after allegedly selling cocaine on several occasions to undercover Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) agents.

They were arrested and charged last week when they attempted to complete their largest sale, a full kilogram of cocaine to federal DEA agents two days before Valentine’s Day on February 12.

Erick Sandoval-Perez, 43, a Guatemalan national living in Malden, was charged with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. Christhian Castillo, 32, also of Malden, was charged with distribution and possession with intent to distribute 500 or more grams of cocaine and conspiracy to commit that offense.

Sandoval-Perez and Castillo had initial appearances and a detention hearing in federal court in Worcester on February 13, and were ordered held without bail pending further proceedings.

According to court records, Sandoval-Perez, is a Guatemalan national who was previously deported from the United States and allegedly re-entered illegally.

Sandoval-Perez is subject to deportation proceedings upon completion of an imposed sentence, if convicted, and/or when the court proceedings regarding this case conclude.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA, New England Field Division; Chief Ryan Malatos of the Leominster Police Department; and Chief Brian W. Coyne of the Clinton Police Department made the announcement of the case this week. DEA officials also noted valuable assistance was provided by the Malden Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan O’Shea of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.  In court last week, prosecutors said Sandoval-Perez and Castillo allegedly worked together to sell cocaine on several occasions to an undercover law enforcement officer.

Last Thursday,  February 12, Sandoval-Perez allegedly arranged to sell a kilogram of cocaine to an undercover DEA agent. Castillo was arrested when he allegedly handed the kilogram of cocaine to the undercover officer, and Sandoval-Perez was arrested nearby.

—The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1,000,000.

—The charges of distribution and possession with intent to distribute 500 or more grams of cocaine, and conspiracy to commit that offense, carry a sentence of at least five years and up to 40 years in prison, supervised release of at least four years and a fine of up to $5,000,000. Sandoval-Perez is subject to deportation proceedings upon completion of an imposed sentence.