FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Feb. 13, 2012
THREE INDIVIDUALS SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR HEROIN DISTRIBUTION
Defendants Each Admit Affiliation to a Charleston-area Heroin Distribution Scheme
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Three heroin dealers were sentenced today in federal court for their roles in distributing more than 100 grams of heroin in and around Charleston. Jorge Robles Garcia also known as “Javier Mendez-Gonzalez,” 32, of Mexico, was sentenced to 82 months’ imprisonment. Angela Mangiapane, 23, of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, was sentenced to 40 months’ imprisonment, and Alonso Marquez Tello, 24, of Mexico, was sentenced to 38 months’ imprisonment.
U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin said, “Today’s sentencings underscore my office’s ongoing commitment to eliminate the illegal spread of opiates in the Southern District of West Virginia.”
Goodwin continued, “The drug dealers who choose to peddle this poison in the Southern District must understand that they will be dealt with in the harshest terms.”
Garcia previously pleaded guilty in October to conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin. Garcia admitted that from January 2011 until March 17, 2011, he conspired with known individuals, which included co-defendants Mangiapane and Tello, to distribute heroin in the Charleston area. Garcia also admitted that during the scheme, he and his associates utilized the same telephone number to arrange heroin transactions and also utilized the same vehicles to travel to various locations in the Charleston area to deliver heroin. Garcia further admitted that on three separate occasions in January 2011, he sold five balloons of heroin to a confidential informant in exchange for $500. Garcia also admitted that on February 3, 2011, he sold five balloons of heroin to an undercover law enforcement agent in exchange for $500.
Tello previously pleaded guilty in July to conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin. Tello admitted that in January 2011 until March 17, 2011, he conspired with known associates to distribute heroin in the Charleston area. The defendant further admitted that he and his associates used the same telephone number to arrange heroin deals and used the same vehicles to travel to various locations in the Charleston area to deliver heroin. Tello also admitted that on two separate occasions in February 2011, he and an associate sold quantities of heroin to an informant. On both occasions, the informant purchased a quantity of heroin from the defendant and his associates in exchange for $120.
Mangiapane previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin in August. She admitted that from December 2010 until March 17, 2011, she conspired with several associates to distribute heroin in the Charleston area. Mangiapane further admitted that as part of the heroin conspiracy, she established customers for known associates, provided a residence that was utilized by the associates and also registered a vehicle in her name that was used to distribute heroin. As part of her plea agreement,
Mangiapane stipulated that on January 5, 2011, she sold a quantity of heroin to a confidential informant working with the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT).
The investigations were conducted by the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT) and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Monica Dillon handled the prosecutions.
Click here to listen to U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin discuss his office's efforts to crack down on the spread of opiates in the Southern District.
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