JESUS VALENCIA-REUVELTA, 29, of Ridgefield, Washington, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 33 months in prison and three years of supervised release for Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, and being an Alien in Possession of a Firearm. VALENCIA-REUVELTA was found guilty by a jury February 12, 2009, following a three day trial. U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Zilly imposed the sentence. VALENCIA-REUVELTA will be deported following his prison term.

According to records filed in the case, law enforcement became aware of VALENCIA-REUVELTA’s Ridgefield address while investigating a large marijuana grow in Clark County. On August 14, 2008, following a search of that grow location, investigators arrived at VALENCIA-REUVELTA’s home. VALENCIA-REUVELTA agreed to allow officers to search the residence. Inside they found three large unzipped duffel bags containing marijuana and four firearms. One of the guns, a loaded Sterling Arms, Mark II .380 caliber handgun was found next to a photo album with pictures of VALENCIA-REUVELTA and a stack of $5100 cash. Initially, VALENCIA-REUVELTA told investigators that the marijuana had arrived from California about three days earlier. VALENCIA-REUVELTA indicated he was in the country illegally, having crossed the border from Mexico in January 2007.

The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Clark-Skamania County Drug Task Force.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Patty Lally and Ronald J. Friedman.

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

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