MIGUEL EDEN VILLARREAL, 29, of Burien, Washington, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to six and a half years in prison and three years of supervised release for Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute. VILLARREAL is a Mexican national illegally in the United States and will likely be deported following his prison term. At sentencing Chief U.S. District Judge Robert S. Lasnik said, “He was involved in moving massive amounts of one of the most dangerous drugs on the street.”

According to records filed in the case, King County Sheriff’s Officers and Drug Enforcement Administration Agents became aware that VILLARREAL was dealing meth out of his Burien apartment in June 2007. Investigators used a confidential source to purchase highly pure “Ice” methamphetamine from VILLARREAL. On July 31, 2007, agents obtained a search warrant and searched the apartment where VILLARREAL lived with his wife and two young children. Agents and officers uncovered methamphetamine, cocaine, packaging materials, and $40,000 in cash. VILLARREAL was arrested a few blocks away from the apartment, and told investigators he had been in the U.S. illegally for about five months, and had been dealing drugs for four months.

Addressing VILLARREAL’s wife and two young children who were in court, Chief Judge Lasnik noted that VILLARREAL “needed to think about other families where money that should have gone to feed and clothe the children went instead to feed a horrible drug habit.”

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the King County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisca Borichewski.

For additional information please contact Emily Langlie, Public Affairs Officer for the United States Attorney’s Office, at (206) 553-4110.

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