PADUCAH, Ky. – A Graves County, Kentucky man and illegal alien living in Chicago, were sentenced in United States District Court by Senior Judge Thomas B. Russell this week, after pleading guilty to charges of possession and distribution of methamphetamine announced David J. Hale, United States Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky.

Timothy Chambers, age 32, of Sedalia, Kentucky, located in Graves County, was sentenced to 70 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release after pleading guilty on February 15, 2012 in U.S. District Court to a federal indictment charging Chambers with possession of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.

Ezequiel Flores-Garcia, age 28, with a Chicago address, was sentenced to 120 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release after pleading guilty on February 15, 2012 in U.S. District Court to a federal indictment charging Flores-Garcia and co-defendant Maria Tapia with possession of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.

According to Chambers’ plea agreement, in August 2011, the defendant possessed 162.1 grams of actual methamphetamine at his home located in Sedalia, Kentucky. Chambers had previously received the methamphetamine from Maria Tapia and Ezequiel Flores-Garcia who had transported the controlled substance from Chicago, IL to Graves County, Kentucky. Tapia and Flores-Garcia delivered the meth on behalf of a Hispanic male known as “Uncle” who was later identified as Elmer Melesio. Melesio pled guilty to possession of methamphetamine and is scheduled for sentencing in United States District Court, located in Paducah, Kentucky on August 14, 2012.

According Flores-Garcia’s plea agreement, in August 2011, co-defendant Maria Tapia and Flores-Garcia drove a Ford Explorer from Chicago which contained 439 grams of actual methamphetamine to Chamber’s home in Sedalia, Kentucky. The meth had been hidden inside the vehicle’s spare tire. Flores-Garcia, with assistance from Chambers, removed the meth which was contained in three separate packages, from the spare tire.

Maria Tapia is scheduled to enter a change of plea before Magistrate Judge Dave Whalin in Louisville on July 3, 2012.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert B. Bonar and was investigated by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, Madisonville Post of Duty, and the Kentucky State Police.

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