Three Sentenced in Chesco's 'Operation Snowflake'

The three leaders of a Chester County cocaine trafficking ring have been sentenced to significant jail time, Chester County District Attorney Thomas P. Hogan announced Friday.

The three men were arrested by Pennsylvania State Police in July 2011 as part of a wiretapping operation dubbed "Operation Snowflake."

Sentenced this month were Omar Lopez-Jurado of Coatesville, who received 12 to 24 years; and Jaime Moreno-Gomez of Oxford, who received 10 to 20 years. Sentenced in May was Heraclio Bernal-Cruz of Oxford, who received 24 to 48 years. 

“The Pennsylvania State Police did an excellent job taking down these drug dealers," Hogan said. "Drug trafficking organizations bring poison into the communities and create an environment of fear and violence. For these drug dealers, their run of easy money led straight to prison.” 

Investigators said that under Operation Snowflake, multiple kilograms of cocaine were brought into Chester County each week before being distributed throughout Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland.

When the men were arrested, police seized a kilogram of cocaine, $60,000 and multiple firearms, the District Attorney's Office said.

“The assigned investigators dedicated a great deal of time and effort into this operation and were committed to removing this drug trafficking organization from the community," said Capt. William White of the Pennsylvania State Police. "The Pennsylvania State Police worked closely with the Chester County District Attorney’s Office to ensure the successful prosecution of the defendants in this case.” 

The District Attorney's Office said Bernal-Cruz and Lopez-Jurado each pleaded guilty to 44 total counts. Moreno-Gomez pleaded guilty to 35 total counts.

Also sentenced this month in connection with Operation Snowflake were Victor Palacios and Awilda Ramos Gonzalez. The District Attorney's Office said the men played lesser roles in the distribution ring. Palacios was sentenced to 11.5 to 23 months, while Gonzalez was sentenced to 2.5 to 5 years in prison.

The case was prosecuted by Christopher deBarrena-Sarobe of the Chester County District Attorney’s Drug Unit.