Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Billings, on November 20, 2009, before Chief U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, ELEAZAR SANCHEZ-HERRERA, a 47-year-old citizen of Mexico, appeared for sentencing. SANCHEZ-HERRERA was sentenced to a term of:

• Prison: 66 months

• Special Assessment: $200

• Supervised Release: 4 years

SANCHEZ-HERRERA was sentenced in connection with his guilty pleas to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute, distribution of cocaine and illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien.

In an Offer of Proof filed by the United States, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

From approximately November or December of 2006, and continuing until January 18, 2008, SANCHEZ-HERRERA was involved with other individuals in a conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and distribution of over 500 grams of cocaine in the Billings area.

Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that SANCHEZ-HERRERA will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, SANCHEZ-HERRERA does have the opportunity to earn a sentence reduction for "good behavior." However, this reduction will not exceed 15% of the overall sentence.

Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. Seykora prosecuted the case for the United States.

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Drug Enforcement Administration and the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force.

 

 

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