ABILENE, Texas - An Abilene, Texas, man, Ruben Soliz, 24, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge Jorge A. Solis to 60 months in federal prison, following his guilty plea in December 2015 to one count of possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.
Three co-defendants also charged in the case, Abilene residents, Andrew Dean Cruz, 30, and Roberto Carlos Villarreal, 31, and San Angelo, Texas, resident, Richard Louis Martinez, 27, each pleaded guilty last year to one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Cruz and Villarreal were each sentenced to 132 months in federal prison, and Martinez was sentenced to 120 months.
According to documents filed in the case, from approximately Nov. 1, 2013 to Aug. 18, 2014, Cruz, Villarreal and Martinez were involved in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in the Abilene area. At times, Cruz distributed the methamphetamine from his residence that was located within 1000 feet of Ortiz Elementary School in Abilene.
Soliz admitted, according to filed documents, that in April 2014, he sold one ounce of methamphetamine to another individual.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Texas Department of Public Safety - Criminal Investigations Division investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Juanita Fielden was in charge of the prosecution.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
