Two Sentenced To 6 Years In Federal Prison For Conspiring To Traffic Crystal Methamphetamine
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Michael Ferguson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’(DEA) New England Field Division and United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha announced Doneri Aguilar Sandoval, 53, of Attleboro, Mass., was sentenced to 72 months in federal prison for participating in a conspiracy to traffic approximately 9 kilos of crystal methamphetamine worth more than $310,000.
At sentencing, U.S. District Court Judge Mary M. Lisi also ordered Sandoval to serve five years of supervised released upon completion of his prison term. Sandoval pleaded guilty on May 2, 2104, to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Juan Carlos Espejo Sanchez, 42, of Providence, R.I., a co-defendant in this matter who orchestrated the shipment and delivery of crystal meth to Massachusetts from California while incarcerated in the Bristol County House of Corrections on an immigration detainer, pleaded guilty on June 9, 2014 to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. He was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mary M. Lisi to 72 months in federal prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release.
According to court documents, in September 2012, agents assigned to the DEA Worcester, Mass., Tactical Diversion (DEA Task Force) developed information about significant quantities of crystal meth and other controlled substances being trafficked into New England from California. During the investigation, agents learned of a significant sized shipment of crystal meth expected to be shipped into New England in November. Agents tracked the shipment which was concealed inside a hidden compartment of a vehicle being shipped to an automobile storage facility in East Walpole, Mass.
On December 5, 2012, a Massachusetts State Police drug detection canine examined the vehicle at the storage facility and alerted investigators to the presence of narcotic drugs inside a hidden compartment above a rear wheel. The agents seized 16 packages which they later determined contained approximately 9 kilos of crystal methamphetamine.
According to information presented to the court, DEA Task Force agents, posing as employees of the storage facility, made several attempts to contact the individual to whom the car was scheduled to be delivered. On December 10, 2012, a Task Force undercover agent posing as an employee of a tow truck company was instructed by the intended recipient of the vehicle to deliver the vehicle to a residence in Randolph, Mass. Upon delivery of the vehicle, agents observed a vehicle owned by Doneri Sandoval canvasing the area. Shortly after agents dropped off the vehicle a confidential source working with Task Force agents received a call from Sandoval alerting him to the fact that the shipment of crystal meth had arrived and that he was to meet later that day at Twin River Casino in Lincoln, R.I., to complete the drug transaction. Sandoval was arrested by DEA Task Force agents, with the assistance of Lincoln, R.I., police, during the meeting at Twin River Casino.
According to information presented to the court, following Sandoval’s arrest a court authorized search of the Randolph residence resulted in the discovery of identification documents belonging to Juan Carlos Espejo Sanchez, a Mexican national, who was being held at Bristol County House of Corrections in New Bedford on an immigration detainer. Agents also located a letter which provided specific instructions to Sandoval regarding the sale and delivery of the crystal meth, and for receipt and distribution of the payment for the drugs.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul F. Daly, Jr.
The DEA Worcester, Mass., Tactical Diversion Squad was assisted with the investigation by the Massachusetts State Police, and law enforcement officers from the Attleboro, Randolph and Walpole, Mass., Police Departments and Lincoln, R.I. Police Department.
The DEA Worcester, Mass., Tactical Diversion Squad is comprised of law enforcement agents and officers from the DEA, the Norfolk County, Mass., Sheriff’s Office, and the Burlington, Douglas, North Andover, Walpole, Wellesley and Worcester, Mass., Police Departments.
