Career Offender Sentenced To 13 Years For Trafficking Methamphetamine, Possession Of A Firearm

SAN JOSE - Jose Ezequiel Monroy was sentenced on April 3, 2013, to thirteen years in prison for distributing methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm, United States Attorney Melinda Haag announced.

Monroy pleaded guilty on January 9, 2013, to one count of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g). According to the plea agreement, Monroy admitted to selling methamphetamine, a Intratec TEC-DC9 pistol with thirty rounds of ammunition, a Winchester shotgun, a Norinco model MAK-90 rifle, a Charter Arms revolver, and a Mossberg shotgun to a person working undercover for the government.

"Criminals who traffic in drugs regularly carrying firearms to protect their illicit enterprise. These drugs traffickers are a threat to our community and should be held accountable," stated Joseph M. Riehl, Special Agent in Charge, San Francisco Field Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Monroy, 61, of Salinas, California, a Mexican national with no legal status in the United States, was indicted by a federal grand jury on September 14, 2011. He was charged with three counts of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine, and four counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Lucy H. Koh. Monroy had three prior felony convictions at the time of his arrest, each for possessing narcotics with the intent to sell. Judge Koh found that due to Monroy’s prior felony drug trafficking convictions he was a career offender under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. Judge Koh also sentenced Montoy to a ten-year period of supervised release.

Dan Kaleba is the Assistant U.S. Attorney who is prosecuting the case with the assistance of legal tech Elise Etter. The prosecution is the result of a nearly two year investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.