Defendant attempted to distribute approximately 17 pounds of methamphetamine while on pretrial release
SAN FRANCISCO - Jesus Guadalupe Salazar was sentenced yesterday to 17.5 years in prison for engaging in a conspiracy to commit drug trafficking, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson, Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Chris Nielsen, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Rayfield Roundtree.
Salazar, age 33, of San Mateo, California, was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 12, 2018, with engaging in a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846 and 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(A)(viii). He pleaded guilty in an open plea before the Court on June 9, 2019.
Salazar, who was the target of a federal wiretap operation, initially was arrested after being found with approximately 20 pounds of methamphetamine and nearly 5 pounds of heroin in his car. Agents also seized multiple firearms, magazines, and ammunition from his home. After his arrest and initial pretrial release, Salazar attempted to deliver an additional 17 pounds of methamphetamine to an individual in Seattle, Washington, where he was arrested again and has remained in continuous federal custody.
The sentence was handed down by The Honorable William H. Orrick, III, U.S. District Court Judge, following Salazar’s open plea application. Judge Orrick also sentenced the defendant to a 5 year period of supervised release.
AUSA Sheila Armbrust is the Assistant U.S. Attorney who is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Linda Love. The prosecution is the result of a year-long investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office Gang Intelligence Unit, and the San Mateo County Narcotics Task Force.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
