Weedpipe
Active Member
PHOENIX Antelmo Vega-Cristin, 29, of San Ignacio, Sinaloa, Mexico and Efrain Plata-Jimenez, 23, of Acaponeta, Nayaritt, Mexico were each sentenced Monday to 24 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Paul G. Rosenblatt. Vega-Cristin and Plata-Jimenez pleaded guilty on March 16, 2010, to Count Four of an Indictment alleging that they imported, aided and abetted the importation of 100 kilograms or more of marijuana into the U.S. from the Republic of Mexico.
On November 12, 2009, Vega-Cristin, Plata-Jimenez and their co-defendants, Manuel Alberto Alvarado-Romero, Raymundo Nunez-Rodriguez, Tomas Payanez-Carrazco, Santana Ponce-Perez, and Jose Garcia-Angulo, were apprehended by Wellton Station Border Patrol agents as they made their way towards Interstate 8 near Tacna, Arizona. The group was spotted by Border Patrol agents through their use of infra-red laser technology and night vision goggles. The agents noted that the group consisted of 11 people, and that they were all carrying backpacks.
Once approached by the Border Patrol agents, the members of the group scattered in an attempt to flee. However, the agents were able to apprehend all 11 members. The agents then discovered that 10 of the backpacks each contained two large bricks of marijuana wrapped in cellophane. The aggregate weight of the marijuana in the backpacks was 209.50 kilograms (461 pounds). The eleventh backpack contained miscellaneous items including food, water, a portable hand-held radio, and foam booties used to conceal footprints.
The other co-defendants were also sentenced by Judge Rosenblatt to 24 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release. All of the defendants admitted they agreed with drug traffickers in Mexico to bring the marijuana into the United States, in exchange for payment. Four of the backpackers were found to be juveniles and they were turned over to immigration officials for administrative processing.
Co-defendant Santana Ponce-Perez is set to begin trial on July 27, 2010. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and United States Border Patrol agents from Wellton Station,Yuma Sector. The prosecution was handled by Fred Cocio with the U.S. Attorneys Office, District of Arizona.
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Website: http://tucsoncitizen.com/hot-off-the-press-release/2010/06/17/drug-backpackers-sentenced-for-taking-400-lbs-pot-across-tacna-area-desert/
On November 12, 2009, Vega-Cristin, Plata-Jimenez and their co-defendants, Manuel Alberto Alvarado-Romero, Raymundo Nunez-Rodriguez, Tomas Payanez-Carrazco, Santana Ponce-Perez, and Jose Garcia-Angulo, were apprehended by Wellton Station Border Patrol agents as they made their way towards Interstate 8 near Tacna, Arizona. The group was spotted by Border Patrol agents through their use of infra-red laser technology and night vision goggles. The agents noted that the group consisted of 11 people, and that they were all carrying backpacks.
Once approached by the Border Patrol agents, the members of the group scattered in an attempt to flee. However, the agents were able to apprehend all 11 members. The agents then discovered that 10 of the backpacks each contained two large bricks of marijuana wrapped in cellophane. The aggregate weight of the marijuana in the backpacks was 209.50 kilograms (461 pounds). The eleventh backpack contained miscellaneous items including food, water, a portable hand-held radio, and foam booties used to conceal footprints.
The other co-defendants were also sentenced by Judge Rosenblatt to 24 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release. All of the defendants admitted they agreed with drug traffickers in Mexico to bring the marijuana into the United States, in exchange for payment. Four of the backpackers were found to be juveniles and they were turned over to immigration officials for administrative processing.
Co-defendant Santana Ponce-Perez is set to begin trial on July 27, 2010. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and United States Border Patrol agents from Wellton Station,Yuma Sector. The prosecution was handled by Fred Cocio with the U.S. Attorneys Office, District of Arizona.
News Forum: rollitup.org
Contact: http://tucsoncitizen.com/
Copyright: tucson citizen
Website: http://tucsoncitizen.com/hot-off-the-press-release/2010/06/17/drug-backpackers-sentenced-for-taking-400-lbs-pot-across-tacna-area-desert/