Ernesto Vizcarra-Aguilar, 58, a Mexican national, was sentenced today by United States Chief District Judge Michael J. Reagan to 135 months in federal prison for one count of conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, Donald S. Boyce, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today. In addition to the term of imprisonment, Vizcarra-Aguilar will be subject to five years of supervised release to follow the imprisonment, a $300 fine, and a $100 special assessment fee.
Facts revealed in open court at the sentencing revealed that Vizcarra coordinated the distribution of over 20 kilograms of methamphetamine to California, Colorado, Nevada, and Kansas from either October or November 2014 through March 2015. Vizcarra also provided cash to a courier on two occasions to cover travel expenses. At sentencing, Chief Judge Reagan commented that the offense involved a "staggering" amount of methamphetamine: anywhere from over 41,000 to over 207,000 individual doses depending on the dosage weight. Chief Judge Reagan indicated that the sentence punishes Vizcarra, reflects the seriousness of the offense, promotes respect for the law and deters others from committing similar crimes.
Evidence in support of this prosecution was obtained in an investigation conducted under the auspices of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The OCDETF
initiative is designed to bring federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and resources together to identify, target and dismantle large national and international drug trafficking organizations. Agencies participating in this case include the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations, the Illinois State Police, and Fontana, California Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Monica A. Stump prosecuted this case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
