Methamphetamine Trafficker Sentenced To Over 17 Years In Prison

SAN JOSE – Jose Vazquez-Barron, AKA Chepa, was sentenced yesterday to 210 months (17.5 years) in prison for his role in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Brian J. Stretch and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge John J. Martin.  The sentence follows a guilty plea entered August 15, 2016, in which Vasquez-Barron admitted he conspired to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.

According to the plea agreement, Vasquez-Barron, 29, of San Jose, admitted that between February and October of 2015, he conspired with others to possess and distribute methamphetamine.  In his plea agreement, Vasquez-Barron described two transactions that occurred as part of the conspiracy.  First, on May 20, 2015, he sold 448 grams of actual methamphetamine to an undercover officer in exchange for $4,800.  Second, on September 1, 2015, Vasquez-Barron sold over 500 grams of methamphetamine to an undercover officer.  In addition to these transactions, Vasquez-Barron acknowledged he conspired with others to possess with the intent to distribute an additional 7 kilograms of methamphetamine; the distribution did not occur because the drugs were seized on October 4, 2015. 

Vasquez-Barron was indicted by a federal grand jury on October 8, 2015.  He was charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(A)(viii), and two counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(A)(viii).  Pursuant to his plea agreement, Vasquez-Barron pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846.   

The sentence was handed down by the Honorable Edward J. Davila, U.S. District Judge.  In addition to the prison term, Judge Davila sentenced Vasquez-Barron to a 5-year period of supervised release.  The defendant has been in federal custody since October 5, 2015, and will begin serving his sentence immediately.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bill Gullotta and Chinhayi Cadet are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Theresa Benitez and Lakisha Holliman. This case is the product of an extensive investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, a focused multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force investigating and prosecuting the most significant drug trafficking organizations throughout the United States by leveraging the combined expertise of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.