Reno Meth Dealer Sentenced To 12½ Years In Prison

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – On Tuesday, Sept. 8, U.S. District Judge Larry R. Hicks sentenced a Reno man to 12½ years in prison and five years of supervised release following his arrest and conviction for possessing approximately one kilogram of pure methamphetamine in his vehicle,  announced U.S. Attorney Daniel G. Bogden, for the District of Nevada.  

Francisco Fuentes Ibarra, 35, pleaded guilty in May to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute at least 500 grams of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine.  Ibarra and co-defendant Jennifer Ann Fulcher were originally charged in August 2014. Fulcher also pleaded guilty, and was sentenced on July 21 to 70 months in prison.

“The defendant is a convicted felon who was driving around Reno with a firearm and a large quantity of methamphetamine in his vehicle for the purpose of distribution,” said U.S. Attorney Bogden.  “We will work with our federal, local and state partners to ensure that persons who have a criminal history and are using handguns to distribute significant quantities of drugs are prosecuted federally.”

According to the court records, on Aug. 5, 2014, a Sparks Police Department detective received information from a confidential source that Ibarra and Fulcher had a significant amount of methamphetamine and firearms in their vehicle.  Following receipt of this information, on the same day, Ibarra was pulled over by a Washoe County Sheriff’s Office deputy for a traffic violation while driving a white Suburban SUV in Reno. A drug detection canine indicated that the vehicle was positive for controlled substances.  A search of the vehicle revealed a blue duffel bag containing 983 grams of 100 percent pure methamphetamine and a 9 millimeter handgun.  Under the front passenger seat where Fulcher had been sitting, officers found a glass vial with methamphetamine and two methamphetamine pipes.  Inside the vehicle were other items of drug paraphernalia, including a scale and small black baggies.  Investigators also located in the vehicle a radio frequency detector, 10 cellular phones, store unit receipts, and a Motel 6 receipt.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. Keller and investigated by the DEA, Sparks Police Department, and Washoe County Sheriff’s Office.