Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Distributing Methamphetamine

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Today, just as trial was set to begin, Martin Gasca-Rojas, 49, of Mexico, pleaded guilty to three counts of distributing methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, between October 2016 and May 2017, Gasca-Rojas distributed nearly 4 pounds of methamphetamine on three occasions. In October 2016, Gasca‑Rojas sold 1 pound of methamphetamine for $3,300. In November 2016, he arranged a sale of 2 pounds of methamphetamine for $6,500, and had two other individuals deliver the methamphetamine. Finally, in May 2017, he sold 1 pound of methamphetamine for $3,600.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Assistant U.S. Attorneys Audrey B. Hemesath and Owen Roth are prosecuting the case.

Gasca-Rojas is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez on August 21, 2018. Gasca-Rojas faces a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.