United States Drug Enforcement Administration

LOS ANGELES - A San Jacinto man affiliated with the Riverside San Jacinto First Street gang was sentenced to a decade in prison Monday for his role in methamphetamine trafficking.
Luis Miguel Castro, aka “Fat Boy,” 27, was sentenced by United States District Judge Dale S. Fischer, who found that Castro was affiliated with the gang.  Castro pled guilty earlier this year to possession with the intent to distribute, over a half-pound of methamphetamine.

“In conjunction with our law enforcement partners, DEA continues to target and combat violent criminal street gangs engaged in the distribution of narcotics in our local communities,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Steve Comer. “The San Jacinto First Street gang, a Riverside County based organization with a history of murder, home invasions, weapons violations and narcotics sales, has been decimated as a result of recent efforts by DEA and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office.”
         
Prosecutors argued that Castro was a member of the San Jacinto First Street gang.  Castro was the lead defendant in the indictment which also charged four other defendants with distribution of methamphetamine.  Three defendants were previously convicted and are currently serving federal prison sentences:

1. Roberto Alvarado, 30, San Jacinto, was sentenced last week to 63 months in custody for possession with intent distribute methamphetamine;
2. Terri Lynne Valenzuela, 50, San Jacinto, was sentenced in June to 78 months in custody for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; and
3. Victor Chavez, 26, San Jacinto, was sentenced in February to five years in custody, consecutive to his state court sentences, for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

As a condition of their sentences, these defendants were prohibited from associating with known members of the San Jacinto First Street gang.

“Criminal street gangs continue to sell dangerous drugs as a major source of revenue, so the Department of Justice will continue to attack these gangs by seeking imprisonment for drug-traffickers affiliated with them,” said United States Attorney Eileen M. Decker. “The convictions and sentences in this case demonstrate how cooperation between state and federal law enforcement can bring positive results for a community.”

The case against Castro was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jay Robinson of the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section and Sandhya Ramadas of the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force Section.