FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	February 28, 2012
Docket #: 2:10-cr-391-JAM

            SACRAMENTO, Calif. — United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced that Sergio Murillo-Valencia, 37, and Fabian Figueroa-Ayala, 29, both of Gilroy, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to distribute methamphetamine.

            According to court documents, on August 19, 2010, investigators searched a house in Gilroy where they found more than 610 pounds of crystal methamphetamine spread throughout nearly every room in the house. Figueroa-Ayala was in one of the four bedrooms along with more than $300 in cash, ledgers detailing a significant number of methamphetamine transactions, two cell phones, and more than 68 pounds of methamphetamine.

            Murillo-Valencia was in another bedroom with more than $10,200 in cash, a Mexican driver’s license that had his picture on it but with a different name, three ledgers and some loose ledger sheets detailing a significant number of methamphetamine transactions, nine cell phones, a laptop computer, a firearm and ammunition, and three money transfer receipts. Other ledgers were found throughout the house. In all, the ledgers detailed the distribution of more than 3,300 pounds of methamphetamine in less than five-months.

            This case is the product of an extensive investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department, and the California Department of Justice (Cal-MMET). Assistant United States Attorney Michael M. Beckwith is prosecuting the case.

            Murillo-Valencia and Figueroa-Ayala are scheduled to be sentenced by United States District Judge John A. Mendez on June 12, 2012. They face a maximum statutory penalty for of life in prison and a $10 million fine. The actual sentences, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory sentencing factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

           Roberto Bermudez-Ornelas and Martin Solorio, both of Sacramento previously pleaded guilty in this case and are scheduled to be sentenced on April 3, 2012. Charges are pending against the remaining five defendants. The charges are only allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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