Holler

I. BACKGROUND

This case arises out of a “reverse sting” operation in which defendant Peter James Holler conspired with co-defendants Nelson Palacio and Gustavo Estrada to purchase a large amount of cocaine from a confidential informant (“CI”) work- ing with the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”).

In January of 2001, the CI informed DEA agent Travis Lavigne that he knew of someone who wanted to purchase large amounts of cocaine in Los Angeles, California. On Feb- UNITED STATES v. HOLLER 6933 ruary 2, 2001, the CI told Agent Lavigne that he had received a telephone call from a man named Chepe (co-defendant Pala- cio), who said he was coming to Los Angeles. Three days later, with Agent Lavigne’s permission, the CI picked up Palacio from the airport and drove him to a hotel in Torrance, California. Later that day, the CI returned to the hotel where Palacio was staying to discuss the deal. Palacio told the CI that his client was arriving soon and that the client was pre- pared to purchase 100 kilograms of cocaine.

The next day, the CI returned to the hotel and met Palacio’s partner, co-defendant Estrada. Palacio and Estrada told the CI that they had a client…