Pubdate: Fri, 05 Oct 2001 Source: Evansville Courier & Press (IN) Copyright: 2001 The Evansville Courier Contact: http://www.courierpress.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/138 Author: Byron Rohrig Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) Related: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01/n1154/a04.html?1964 DRUG DEFENDANT GETS 30 YEARS Man Had Role In Meth-smuggling Ring A key operative in a methamphetamine pipeline from Mexico and Texas to Indiana was sentenced to 30 years in prison on Thursday. An underling also convicted this summer in a federal drug conspiracy trial received 23 years. Leonel "Wicho" Moreno Jr. of McAllen, Texas, had funneled quantities of the drug known as "crank" from labs in Mexico to the Dallas home of Miguel Angel "Mike" Quintanilla. Quintanilla paid Moreno for the drug and then oversaw its transportation to Southwestern Indiana and its sale here. U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young sentenced the 28-year-old Moreno to 30 years in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and to 20 years for money laundering, with the sentences to run concurrently. Testimony in the trial in June maintained that Quintanilla and the five other conspirators on trial were responsible for distribution of 25 pounds of methamphetamine with a street value of $750,000 to users in Southwestern Indiana. Despite trial evidence against Moreno that Young termed "very strong," Moreno continued to maintain his innocence, as had Quintanilla on the previous day before Young sentenced Quintanilla to life. Against the counsel of his attorney, Edward Malavenda of Indianapolis, Moreno told Young: "I didn't have a fair trial in here and some day I will prove my innocence." Under federal sentencing guidelines, Young enhanced Moreno's sentence in part because he had refused to accept responsibility for his role in the conspiracy. Malavenda said afterward that Young was fair in the sentencing. A maximum sentence would have added more than three years to Moreno's term. All six defendants found guilty in the trial in June are expected to appeal. Alan Martinez-Guzman, a 26-year-old illegal alien from Mexico City who had lived for two years prior to his arrest in Princeton, Ind., was sentenced to 22 years and four months for his role in the conspiracy. Termed a "drug runner" for Alfredo Ceballos, another conspirator sentenced on Wednesday to 30 years in prison, Martinez-Guzman was twice recorded on videotape selling methamphetamine to an undercover agent. Speaking through trial interpreter Orencio Diaz, Martinez-Guzman confessed at Thursday's sentencing hearing that he made the two videotaped sales, but denied ever making another drug sale. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bradley Blackington sought an enhancement of Martinez-Guzman's sentence for obstruction of justice as a result of his testimony. "He is either the unluckiest man on the face of the Earth and in human history, or he is a liar who deserves a two-level increase (in his sentence) for obstruction of justice," Blackington said. Young agreed that Martinez-Guzman's statements had "stretched credibility," but declined to grant the sentencing enhancement. Due to a lack of criminal history and lower level of involvement, Young said Martinez-Guzman did not deserve a sentence equal to the 30 years meted out to Ceballos, his supervisor. Two more conspirators - including Quintanilla's wife, Denise - are scheduled for sentencing at a later date. - --- MAP posted-by: GD