Lathrop Man Sentenced To Over 8 Years In Prison For Methamphetamine Trafficking

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Jonathan Garcia, 24, of Lathrop, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Morrison C. England, Jr. to eight years and five months in prison for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.

According to court documents, on May 7, 2013, Garcia drove to a residence in Manteca to deliver methamphetamine to a buyer. When he arrived, he was met by law enforcement officers who searched his car and found approximately 103 grams of 99% pure crystal methamphetamine in the center console and a loaded gun. During a subsequent search of Garcia’s residence, officers found an additional 110.8 grams of methamphetamine.

“As this lengthy sentence makes clear, trafficking methamphetamine is a serious offense that will be punished with the full weight of the law,” said Kim Wong, resident agent in charge HSI Stockton. “Left unchecked, this highly dangerous substance destroys lives and wreaks havoc on entire communities. HSI, together with its federal, state and local law enforcement partners, is committed to using every tool and authority at its disposal to combat the menace posed by meth.”

This case was the product of an investigation by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Manteca Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Christiaan Highsmith prosecuted the case.