Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Arden Hills Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Distribute 11 Pounds of Methamphetamine

MINNEAPOLIS—Earlier today in federal court, a 35-year-old Arden Hills man pleaded guilty to distributing approximately 11 pounds of methamphetamine. Marcelino Garcia pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute 500 or more grams of methamphetamine. Garcia, who was indicted on March 20, 2013, entered his plea before United States District Court Judge John R. Tunheim.
In his plea agreement, Garcia, also known as Moreno Marcelino Garcia and Marcelino Garcia-Moreno, admitted that on March 15, 2013, he made arrangements to sell approximately 11 pounds of methamphetamine to an undercover federal agent at a Target parking lot in Shoreview. Garcia also admitted that during the subsequent execution of a search warrant at his residence, authorities seized a 9mm, semi-automatic pistol and five additional pounds of methamphetamine. According to a law enforcement affidavit filed in the case, authorities learned about Garcia during routine narcotics’ investigations in the Twin Cities.
For his crime, Garcia faces a potential maximum penalty of life in prison. Judge Tunheim will determine his sentence at a future hearing, yet to be scheduled. This case is the result of an investigation by the Twin Cities Safe Streets Violent Gang Task Force, which is led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and includes the Minneapolis Police Department. The task force’s mission is to investigate and target the most violent gangs operating in the Twin Cities or those gangs engaged in the large-scale trafficking of illegal drugs. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Julie E. Allyn.

No comments:

Post a Comment