United States Drug Enforcement Administration

SAN FRANCISCO - Miguel Macias aka “Flaco” pleaded guilty today and Alejandro Miranda pleaded guilty on Sept. 24, 2014, to distribution and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to launder money, announced United States Attorney Melinda Haag, Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Jay Fitzpatrick, and Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Special Agent in Charge José M. Martinez.

According to the plea agreements, Miranda admitted to selling four ounces of methamphetamine to an undercover (UC). On Feb. 26, 2013, Miranda met with the UC in a parking lot in San Rafael. He gave the UC the drugs and the UC gave him the money. On Dec. 6, 2013, Macias sold methamphetamine to someone in the parking lot of the Home Depot store in San Rafael for which he received $5,000 for the drugs. On Sept. 21, 2013, Miranda helped Macias wire transfer money to Mexico. Miranda contacted the wire remitters by telephone to arrange the wire transfers. Macias then sent the wires under different sender names and different recipient names. This method was used to conceal the nature, source, and ownership of the funds. According to court documents the drug trafficking took place through Azteca Market in San Rafael.

Macias, 24, of Daly City, and Miranda, 28, of San Pablo, were both charged with distribution and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to launder money. They each pleaded guilty to both counts.

Miranda and Macias are scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 17, 2014, at 10:00 a.m., before the Honorable Charles R. Breyer, United States District Court Judge, in San Francisco.

The maximum statutory penalties for distribution and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841, is life in prison, with a minimum term of 10 years, a $10,000,000 fine, and denial of federal benefits for five years. The maximum statutory penalties for conspiracy to launder money, in violation of  U.S.C. § 1956(h), (b)(1)(A), is 20 years in prison and a fine of $500,00 or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Marin County Major Crimes Task Force, the DEA and the IRS, Criminal Investigation.