REEDLEY MAN CONVICTED IN COCAINE CONSPIRACY

A Reedley man linked to drug cartels in Colombia and Mexico and two other
men have been convicted of conspiring to distribute nearly 800 pounds of
cocaine in a major wiretap drug case by the Drug Enforcement Administration
and U.S. Customs agents.

Martin Chavez-Zarate, 45, of Reedley and Ruben Hernandez Franco, 38, and
Enrique Rodriguez Beltran, 30, both of Los Angeles, were convicted by a jury
Thursday following a two-week trial before U.S. District Judge Oliver W.
Wanger in Fresno.

The jury, which returned its verdict after six hours of deliberation, heard
evidence that federal agents seized 772 pounds of cocaine and $197,901 in
cash in Chicago after overhearing Chavez-Zarate set up a drug transaction on
his cellular phone.

Both Hernandez and Rodriguez were caught transferring 13 kilograms of
cocaine to a vehicle containing a hidden compartment from a van that held an
additional 338 kilograms.

The jury also heard evidence presented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen A.
Escobar that the Chicago transaction was one of "countless nationwide drug
transactions conducted by Chavez-Zarate from 1990 to 1997."

Chavez-Zarate reportedly purchased a $190,000 Reedley home with profits from
his lucrative drug trafficking business, Escobar said. The government is
seeking to recover the home in a separate civil action.

The wiretap investigation was authorized by a federal judge in Fresno after
Chavez-Zarate was intercepted during two other wiretap investigations in Los
Angeles and Houston.

The Los Angeles investigation, known as Operation Casablanca, was the
largest, most comprehensive drug- and money-laundering case in the United
States, authorities said.

During Operation Casablanca, agents seized $100 million from 14 banks and
charged numerous individuals with laundering money for drug cartels in
Colombia and Mexico.

The evidence in Fresno showed that Chavez-Zarate frequently dealt with
Manuel Alcola-Navaro, one of the primary targets of Operation Casablanca and
a close associate of Amado Carillo Fuentes, who until his death in July 1997
was Mexico's No. 1 drug trafficker.

Chavez-Zarate is facing 20 years to life in prison. The others are facing 10
years to life.

Wanger set Jan. 10 for sentencing.