FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	Thursday, April 26, 2012
Docket #: 2:08-cr-357-WBS

            SACRAMENTO, Calif. — United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced that United States District Judge William B. Shubb sentenced Miguel Angel Villa-Contreras, 27, of Michoacán, Mexico, today to 10 years in prison for conspiring to grow and distribute marijuana. 

            According to court documents, Villa-Contreras provided guidance, counsel, and direction to the leaders of a 12-person conspiracy to grow thousands of marijuana plants on public land in two different counties in California. He was sought after by these growers and others as a marijuana grow consultant. Villa-Contreras was also the leader of a five-person endeavor to sell 25 pounds of marijuana to an undercover officer. Villa-Contreras was an experienced marijuana grower and had financed several marijuana growing operations outside the Bakersfield area.

            Villa-Contreras is the last defendant to be sentenced in this case. The other defendants were sentenced as follows:

            Adrian Ortega-Diaz sentenced on 9/13/11 to 11 years and three months;
            Hubert Mario Ramirez sentenced on 6/20/11 to 11 years and five months;
            Samuel Botello Mondragon sentenced on 7/25/2011 to five years and five months;
            Ruben Diaz sentenced on 8/31/09 to two and a half years;
            Eduardo Villa-Contreras sentenced on 7/27/09 to three years and one month;
            Jose Juan Ayala-Lopez sentenced on 4/26/10 to five years;
            Jose Alfredo Villa-Via Senor sentenced on 6/22/09 to two and a half years;
            Julio Adrian Nevel sentenced on 3/09/09 to time served;
            Patricio Maleno and Leno Arreola sentenced on 7/27/09 to time served;
            Pablo Arreola sentenced on 6/08/09 to 15 months.

            This case is the product of an investigation by the DEA, the California Department of Justice, and the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant United States Attorney Michael M. Beckwith prosecuted the case.

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