Tulare Man Sentenced for Weapon and Drug Offenses

FRESNO, Calif. — Valentin Aispuro, 38, of Tulare, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Anthony W. Ishii to four years and three months in prison for possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possession of a firearm by a felon, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.

According to court documents, in January 2013, Tulare Police Department detectives obtained search warrants for two residences in Tulare believed to be used by Aispuro and co-defendant Imelda Martin for narcotics sales. During the search, officers found four firearms, 130 pounds of marijuana and cash. Aispuro was a convicted felon and not entitled to possess a firearm.

Both defendants pleaded guilty, and on March 3, 2014, Martin was sentenced to one year and eight months in prison for her role in the offense.

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