Mauro Bonilla Sentenced in U.S. District Court
The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Missoula, on January 12, 2011, before U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy, MAURO BONILLA, a 22-year-old resident of Seattle, Washington, appeared for sentencing. BONILLA was sentenced to a term of:
- Prison: 63 months
- Special Assessment: $100
- Supervised Release: 5 years
BONILLA was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute cocaine.
In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara J. Elliott, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:
On February 3, 2010, a buy/bust was arranged at a motel in Seattle, Washington. C.B., monitored by law enforcement through text messages and phone calls, had arranged for BONILLA to distribute 27 ounces of cocaine to him. BONILLA arrived at the motel and was detained. He was found to have no controlled substances on his person. Subsequent investigation led to BONILLA disclosing that Antonio Garcia was down the street two blocks away with the cocaine. BONILLA answered a phone call from Garcia and per law enforcement instruction, informed Garcia that everything was acceptable at the motel room for Garcia to deliver the cocaine. Garcia arrived at the hotel within 10 minutes and was detained and found to have approximately 27 ounces of cocaine on his person.
BONILLA was then interviewed. He estimated that he had distributed cocaine to C.B. on (3) occasions for 12 oz., 18 oz. and 18 oz. (48 oz. total) respectively. BONILLA stated that he obtained all of the cocaine from Garcia.
Garcia pled guilty to federal charges and is awaiting sentencing.
Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that BONILLA will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, BONILLA does have the opportunity to earn a sentence reduction for "good behavior." However, this reduction will not exceed 15% of the overall sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
