ABILENE, Texas - Joshua Cisneros, 29, of Abilene, Texas, was sentenced yesterday afternoon by U.S. District Judge Jorge A. Solis, in federal court in Abilene, to a total of 18 years in federal prison. Cisneros was convicted at trial in September in 2012 on all five counts of an indictment charging conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine; possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine; possession with intent to distribute cocaine; possession with intent to distribute less than 50 kilograms of marijuana; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Today’s announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas.
Cisneros’ co-defendant in the case, Nicholas Albarado, 27, also of Abilene, was sentenced by Judge Solis in November 2012 to 18 years in federal prison. He pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to documents filed in the case and evidence presented at trial, the Abilene Police Department received information that a residence on Locust Street in Abilene was being used as a marijuana stash house for a drug trafficking organization. On Aug. 30, 2011, agents with the Abilene Police Department went to the residence to conduct a knock-and-talk in reference to a drug trafficking investigation. When Albarado answered the door, there was an overwhelming smell of fresh marijuana. When agents entered the residence based upon exigent circumstances, Albarado escorted them to a bedroom where they met the owner of the residence, as well as Cisneros.
Shortly thereafter, law enforcement obtained and executed a search warrant at the residence. During the execution of that warrant, agents located and seized methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana, located throughout the house, as well as one stolen rifle and two handguns.
The investigation was spearheaded by the Abilene Police Department, with assistance from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Cunningham and Jeffrey Haag, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Lubbock, Texas, were in charge of the prosecution.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
