United States Drug Enforcement Administration

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Jose Mario Medrano, 36, of Sacramento, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez to 21 years and 10 months in prison for his involvement in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
 
According to court documents, Medrano was a member of a Mexican-based drug trafficking organization that operated in California, Nevada, and Illinois and regularly distributed up to 40 pounds of methamphetamine on a monthly basis. Ultimately, the investigation resulted in the seizure of more than 145 pounds of methamphetamine, extensive drug ledgers, numerous firearms, bullet-proof vests, and more than $145,000 in cash.

Medrano was arrested driving a car that also held a woman and her eight-year-old daughter. Investigators searched Medrano’s vehicle and found 15 pounds of methamphetamine and a loaded 9 mm pistol inside two hidden compartments. Following his arrest, investigators searched Medrano’s house in Sacramento and found more than four pounds of methamphetamine, more than $20,000 in cash, four firearms, ammunition, four ballistic vests, pay-owe sheets, packaging materials, scales and a money counter.

In sentencing Medrano, Judge Mendez noted his connection to firearms and “ballistic vests,” the fact that he was “heavily involved” with a “large drug-trafficking organization,” and the fact that he endangered an eight-year-old child by allowing her to ride with him while he was armed and transporting a large quantity of methamphetamine.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Sacramento Sheriff’s Department High Intensity Drug Trafficking (HIDTA) task force, and the California Department of (Cal-MMET). Assistant United States Attorney Michael M. Beckwith prosecuted the case.