Thread: Man illegally in LV sentenced to life for selling meth

Man illegally in LV sentenced to life for selling meth
By Mary Manning (contact)

Tue, Jun 9, 2009 (5:49 p.m.)

Sun coverage

A Las Vegas man illegally in the United States received a life sentence today for selling methamphetamine and unlawfully possessing a firearm.

Martin Alvarez-Rodriquez, 28, also known as Delfino Sotelo-Ortega, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Philip M. Pro, U.S. Attorney Greg Brower said.

Alvarez-Rodriquez was convicted by a Las Vegas jury on Nov. 6 of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, two counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, a felon in possession of a firearm and illegal alien in possession of a firearm.

Under federal law, a sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole is mandatory for an individual who is convicted of selling two ounces or more of methamphetamine and who has two prior felony drug convictions, Brower said.

In May 2006, Alvarez-Rodriquez and Francisco Michel were arrested by Metro Police and U.S. Immigration and Customs enforcement agents in a restaurant parking lot in Las Vegas after they made arrangements to sell 4 ounces of meth to an undercover officer, court documents said.

Officers recovered a little more than 4 ounces of methamphetamine from a cooler in the truck Alvarez-Rodriquez was driving, authorities said. Based on this information and earlier surveillance of Alvarez-Rodriquez, a search warrant was obtained for his apartment at 450 E. Twain Ave. in Las Vegas.

Law enforcement officers recovered almost 8 ounces of meth -- which had a purity level of 99 percent -- materials and chemicals used to make methamphetamine, about $5,600 in cash, seven scales and a .40-caliber handgun.

Officers also learned that Alvarez-Rodriquez was here illegally and that he had two prior felony drug convictions in California.

Co-defendant Francisco Michel pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and was sentenced on July 13, 2007, to three years and one month in prison.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by assistant U.S. attorneys Kishan Nair and Jeffrey Tao.

www.lasvegassun.com

Dont worry Martin Alvarez-Rodriquez, AKA Delfino Sotelo-Ortega .. Obama is in change now and some things are gonna have to change... he'll have you out in no time