Juan Carlos Espinoza Lopez, a 49-year-old Mexican national, has been sentenced to 151 months in federal prison by Chief U.S. District Judge Derrick K. Watson in Honolulu. Espinoza Lopez's sentence includes five years of supervised release following his incarceration. The charges against him included possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and heroin, being an illegal immigrant in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and illegal reentry into the United States. He entered a guilty plea on December 17, 2024.
Espinoza Lopez's plea agreement revealed his repeated unauthorized entries into the United States, having been deported four times, most recently in 2022. Authorities detained him in April 2024, in Ocean View, Hawaii, where he was found with 176 grams of methamphetamine, 184 grams of heroin, and a Colt AR-15 rifle loaded with 27 rounds of ammunition.
During sentencing, Judge Watson highlighted the severe impact of Espinoza Lopez’s drug distribution on the community, emphasizing that his actions were compounded by his possession of a firearm and unlawful presence in the country. The judge remarked on the difficulty of accepting Espinoza Lopez’s expression of regret, given his two prior felony convictions.
Acting U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson commented, "This prosecution and today’s lengthy sentence deliver the clear message that when you come to Hawaii as an illegal alien for the purpose of brazenly and repeatedly violating our nation’s laws, you will be federally prosecuted and sentenced to a long period of imprisonment." He added, "We will not tolerate those who exploit our borders, endanger our citizens, and profit from the addiction, misery, and violence that accompany the trafficking of drugs in our communities."
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and the Hawaii Police Department, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Darren W.K. Ching prosecuting the case.
