AMARILLO, TX—Valentin Roman Sanchez, 29, and Jose Luis Pando, 34, both of Amarillo, Texas, were sentenced this morning by U.S. District Judge Mary Lou Robinson to 45 months and 120 months, respectively, in federal prison, following each of their guilty pleas earlier this year to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Both have been in custody since November 2011 on related charges outlined in a criminal complaint. Today’s announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas.
A co-defendant in the case, Adrian Garcia Baeza, 32, also of Amarillo, was sentenced by Judge Robinson on March 29, 2012 to 135 months in federal prison; he pleaded guilty to the same offense and has also been in custody since November 2011.
The investigation involved numerous undercover purchases involving large quantities of methamphetamine and large sums of cash. In conjunction with the arrests of Sanchez, Pando, and Baeza, two search warrants were executed and law enforcement seized approximately $147,000 in U.S. currency located in an after-market concealed compartment in a jeep Commander registered to Pando. An additional $25,865 in currency was found in Baeza’s residence.
The investigation was led by the FBI and DEA with assistance from the Amarillo Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Vicki Lamberson was in charge of the prosecution.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment