ARTURO BARBOSA MATA, 21, of Vancouver, Washington was sentenced today to 34 months in prison and five years of supervised release for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Ronald B. Leighton in Tacoma.

BARBOSA MATA was arrested in Vancouver, Washington, on December 16, 2004, following a series of methamphetamine sales to undercover members of the Clark-Skamania Drug Task Force. BARBOSA MATA had delivered the very pure methamphetamine to the undercover agents at the request of his uncle, PEDRO SALAMANCA LOPEZ, 48, also of Vancouver, Washington, who will be sentenced January 13, 2006. A search of the apartment where BARBOSA MATA and SALAMANCA LOPEZ lived turned up more than 140 grams of pure methamphetamine. Both men are Mexican Nationals and likely will be deported following their prison terms.

This was an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation, providing supplemental federal funding to the federal and state agencies involved. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Clark-Skamania Drug Task Force which includes officers from the Vancouver Police Department, Washington State Patrol and the Clark and Skamania County Sheriffs' Offices. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew Thomas and Sarah Vogel. For additional information please contact Emily Langlie, Public Affairs Officer for the United States Attorney's Office at (206)553-4110.

Return to Top