San Angelo Man Sentenced To 327 Months In Federal Prison On Methamphetamine Conviction

LUBBOCK, Texas — A San Angelo, Texas, resident who was arrested in March 2014 following a traffic trop in San Angelo, was sentenced last week by U.S. District Judge Sam R. Cummings to 327 months in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas.

Steve Cuellar Zuniga, 48, pleaded guilty in July 2014 to one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.

According to the factual resume filed in the case, on March 12, 2014, an officer with the San Angelo Police Department conducted a traffic stop of an extended cab pickup truck at the intersection of Howard and Guadalupe Streets in San Angelo. Zuniga, the passenger in that vehicle was arrested on outstanding city arrest warrants.

When placing Zuniga under arrest, the officer asked Zuniga if he had needles or items that would injure him. Zuniga replied, “It’s all bagged up.” The officer located a plastic bag containing 29 gross grams of suspected methamphetamine in Zuniga’s right front pants pocket. A search of the pickup truck yielded 738 gross grams of suspected methamphetamine and a Smith and Wesson .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol.

Subsequent examination by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Crime lab revealed Zuniga possessed 646 net grams of methamphetamine – a quantity consistent with distribution, as opposed to personal use.

The San Angelo Police Department, Texas DPS and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Haag prosecuted.