Denver Man Sentenced to more than 19 Years’ Imprisonment for Narcotics Charge

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced on April 3, 2024, Jesus Villanueva, 26, of Denver, Colorado, was sentenced in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, after having pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Villanueva to 235 months’ imprisonment. After completing his term of imprisonment, Villanueva will be required to serve a 5-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

On March 4, 2023, a Seward County Deputy Sheriff conducted a traffic stop on a white 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe traveling eastbound, near mile marker 382 on Interstate-80. The driver of the Tahoe was identified as codefendant Fausto Antonio Castro-Mendoza. Jesus Villanueva was identified as the front seat passenger. During the course of the traffic stop, the Deputy observed a marijuana product and subsequently searched the Tahoe discovering 43 packages of meth weighing approximately 44 pounds, and 1 package of fentanyl pills weighing approximately 2 pounds.

During a post arrest interviews both Castro-Mendoza and Villanueva admitted transporting the meth and fentanyl pills from Denver, Colorado, to Omaha, Nebraska, and that each was being paid to do so.

Castro-Mendoza has pled guilty to the same narcotics charge and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 17, 2024.

This case was investigated by the Seward County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration.