Aryan Circle gang member sentenced to 20 years in prison for trafficking marijuana

DEL RIO, Texas – A member of the Aryan Circle gang was sentenced on Monday to 240 months in federal prison for his role in trafficking marijuana, announced U.S. Attorney Robert Pitman, Western District of Texas. The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Paul Kalka, 35, of Del Rio, was sentenced to 20 years in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, and fined $5,000 for his role in the marijuana-trafficking operation. Kalka pleaded guilty on Aug. 4, 2011 to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana.

Kalka admitted that between November 2009 and December 2010, he used several stash houses along Vega Verde Road in Del Rio, adjacent to the Rio Grande, to facilitate smuggling and distributing over 1,000 kilograms of marijuana. Authorities arrested Kalka in January 2011.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Seal, Western District of Texas, prosecuted this case.