Tuesday, February 26, 2013

San Bernardino Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing Methamphetamine

OAKLAND—Hassan Johnny Valenzuela pleaded guilty in federal court in Oakland on Wednesday, February 20, 2013, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, United States Attorney Melinda Haag announced.
In pleading guilty, Valenzuela admitted to possessing with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and agreeing with another individual to do so.
According to the plea colloquy, when Valenzuela was arrested on September 5, 2012, he had approximately 4.4 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine inside a speakerbox in the trunk of a vehicle that he was driving. According to the plea colloquy, Valenzuela had agreed with his co-conspirator to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine at a distribution point in Oakland, California.
Valenzuela, 22 years old, of San Bernardino, California, was indicted by a federal grand jury on September 27, 2012. He was charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine in violation of Title 21, United States Code Sections 846, 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(A)(viii), and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine in violation of Title 21, United States Code Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(A)(viii). Valenzuela pleaded guilty to both counts without a plea agreement.
At the conclusion of his guilty plea, Valenzuela was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshals Service. The sentencing of Valenzuela is scheduled for May 8, 2013, before the Honorable Phyllis J. Hamilton in Oakland. The maximum statutory penalty for each count in violation of 21 U.S.C. §841(a)(1) and 846 is life imprisonment and a fine of $10,000,000. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Chinhayi Cadet is the Assistant U.S. Attorney who is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Jacquelyn Lovrin. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Oakland Police Department.

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