SAN JOSE, Calif. – Luis Angel Dimas was sentenced yesterday to 200 months in federal prison for his role in supplying four pounds of methamphetamine in a Drug Enforcement Agency sting operation, United States Attorney Melinda Haag announced. Dimas, a Mexican national, is expected to be deported following the completion of his prison sentence.

Dimas was convicted on Nov. 8, 2011, for two felony counts of distributing methamphetamine, and conspiracy to do the same, by a federal jury after a week long trial. During the trial, evidence showed that Dimas agreed to supply his co-defendants, Jose Morales-Palacios and Alberto Vasquez-Rodriguez, with four pounds of methamphetamine in a drug transaction arranged by Palacios on Aug. 6, 2009, at a location on Piercy Road, in San Jose. None of the men realized that the buyer of the methamphetamine was a person working undercover for the DEA and that the controlled purchase was conducted under the surveillance of law enforcement. Dimas was arrested after he attempted to flee the scene and has remained in custody since his arrest.

DEA agents recovered four pounds of methamphetamine from the scene. Forensic testing revealed that the methamphetamine was more than 95 percent pure, and contained 1,686 grams of actual methamphetamine. According to the National Institute of Justice, a novice user of methamphetamine typically ingests approximately 1/8 gram of methamphetamine to obtain the desired effects; a regular user ingests methamphetamine in 1/4 gram units.

Dimas, 30, formerly a resident of Milpitas, Calif., was indicted by a federal grand jury on Aug. 19, 2009. He was charged with two felony counts of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841. Both counts carry a mandatory minimum 10 year prison sentence, and up to life in prison.

Palacios and Rodriguez, also Mexican nationals, pled guilty before trial, and each received nine year prison sentences and are expected to be deported following the completion of their prison sentences.

Dimas’ sentence was handed down by U.S. District Court Judge D. Lowell Jensen following a jury trial. Judge Jensen also sentenced the defendant to a five-year period of supervised release. Dimas will remain in custody pending designation to a Bureau of Prisons facility.

Daniel Kaleba and Amber Rosen are the Assistant U.S. Attorneys who prosecuted the case, with the assistance of Lakisha Holliman and Kamille Singh. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Agency.

(Dimas indictment )

 

 

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