Press Release
Gallegos Sentenced To Serve 180 Months For Possession Of Methamphetamine With Intent To Distribute
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Georgia
Michael J. Moore, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, announced Antonio Gallegos, also known as “Lego”, age 35, from Valdosta, Georgia was sentenced on March 25, 2015 by the Honorable Hugh Lawson, Senior United States District Judge in Valdosta, Georgia. Mr. Gallegos was sentenced to serve 15 years (180 months) imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Mr. Gallegos had entered his plea of guilty to the offense on January 14, 2015.
On April 29, 2014, a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force Officer in Lowndes County, Georgia received information from DEA Atlanta that a Hispanic male would be delivering a package of methamphetamine to Valdosta via a bus line. Agents observed Jose Renteria-Cortez get off the bus carrying a backpack. The Task Force Officer found 9 packages of methamphetamine with a gross weight of 6.6 pounds. Mr. Renteria-Cortez admitted that he was delivering the drugs to Juan Gabriel Pecina, a co-defendant, for eventual delivery to Antonio Gallegos. Mr. Pecina has previously been sentenced to 168 months imprisonments and Mr. Renteria-Cortez has previously been sentenced to 140 months.
“Methamphetamine destroys the lives of users and non-users alike. The only bus Mr. Gallegos will be waiting on now won’t be one carrying his shipment of drugs, it will be the one taking him to federal prison,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Moore.
“As with all drug traffickers, this methamphetamine distributor was driven by greed and power,” Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division Daniel R. Salter stated. “Today he stands powerless and will spend well-deserved time in prison. This case would not have been possible without the spirited level of cooperation between our law enforcement counterparts.”
Sheriff Chris Prine, of the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office is “extremely proud to see this case come to a successful close. With the continued increase in methamphetamine production and distribution, this must be a priority for everyone in the law enforcement community. This sentence is the result of a cooperative effort of the Drug Enforcement Administration, The United States Attorney’s Office and the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office and a great example of what must be done to impact the flow of illegal drugs in our communities.”
The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Robert D. McCullers prosecuted the case on behalf of the Government.
Inquiries regarding the case should be directed to Pamela Lightsey, United States Attorney’s Office at 478-621-2603.
Updated March 30, 2015
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