Lovelia C. Mendoza Sentenced to Prison in Drug Trafficking Case

          SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that defendant LOVELIA C. MENDOZA, age 36, from Dededo, was sentenced in District Court to an eight-year term of imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for Possession with Intent to Distribute Fifty Grams or More of Methamphetamine. The Court also ordered Mendoza to pay a mandatory $100 assessment fee. In addition, defendants convicted of a federal drug offense may no longer qualify for certain federal benefits.

          On April 17, 2017, agents and task force officers with the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted a search of Mendoza’s residence.   They discovered approximately 537.19 net grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride (“ice”) and approximately 30 gross grams of cocaine. Mendoza was also in possession of $98,555.00 in United States currency, Western Union receipts, plastic Ziploc bags, two fabricated glass pipes, digital scales, a "Pringles" container(s) with a hidden compartment, cut plastic straws, a Sony digital camera, thumb drive, Samsung tablet, Samsung cellular phone, and other digital devices.  The evidence revealed that Mendoza possessed the drugs with the intent to distribute them to another person. On May 18, 2017, Mendoza pled guilty to the charge of Possession with Intent to Distribute Fifty Grams or More of Methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1).

          This prosecution was the result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. The OCDETF program provides supplemental federal funding to federal and local agencies involved in the investigation of drug-related crimes. The Drug Enforcement Administration was the lead investigative agency.  Assistance was also provided by the Superior Court of Guam Probation Office. Assistant United States Attorney Rosetta San Nicolas prosecuted this case for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Guam.