Sacramento Man Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine Trafficking Charges

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Anthony Coates, 28, of Sacramento, pleaded guilty Tuesday to two counts of distribution of methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, Coates distributed 1 pound of methamphetamine in March 2024 and 3 pounds of methamphetamine in April 2024.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from members of the Central Valley High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force and the Citrus Heights Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Haddy Abouzeid is prosecuting the case.

Coates is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 7, 2025, by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez. Coates 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.