MEXICAN NATIONAL SENTENCED TO 60 MONTHS IN PRISON FOR ROLE IN DEALING FIVE LBS. OF METH
Meth Brought up from Mexico was Highly Pure “Ice”
GUADALUPE PEREZ MOLINA, 33, of Quilcene, Washington was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to five years in prison and five years of supervised release for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine. U.S. District Judge Ronald B. Leighton imposed the sentence, noting that MOLINA was in the United States illegally and likely will be deported following his prison term.
According to records filed in the case, in September, 2005 MOLINA and three co-defendants were involved in a drug deal with a confidential source. The drug deal was to take place at a gas station in Port Ludlow on the Olympic Peninsula. The confidential source was to pay $52,500 for five pounds of highly pure methamphetamine. MOLINA set up the deal and his co-defendants transported the drugs from Beaverton, Oregon up to the gas station. Federal and local authorities arrested the four defendants during the drug deal.
PEREZ-MOLINA’S three co-defendants have been convicted as well. Co-defendant Jose Sagrero Gallardo, 30, of Tualatin, Oregon was sentenced in June 2006, to ten years in prison and five years of supervised release for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and Alien in Possession of a Firearm. Judge Leighton imposed the mandatory ten year term based on the quantity of drugs and the fact that Gallardo was armed during the drug transaction. Defendant Moises Gallardo Barragan was sentenced on December 15, 2006 to 70 months in prison. The fourth defendant, Manuel Perez Perez, is scheduled to be sentenced on February 23, 2007.
The case was investigated by the DEA/ Tacoma Regional Narcotics Task Force comprised of DEA agents and local law enforcement officers from Tacoma Police, Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, Washington State Patrol, Washington State Department of Corrections, Bonney Lake Police and Auburn Police Department. In addition, the West Sound Narcotics Enforcement Team (WESTNET) assisted with the arrests. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Thomas.
For additional information please contact Emily Langlie, Public Affairs Officer for the United States Attorney’s Office, at (206)553-4110.
