PHOENIX (LAWFUEL) – Jesus Inez Garibaldi-Salazar, 39, of Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico, was sentenced on April 6th by U.S. District Judge David G. Campbell to 87 months in federal prison. Garibaldi-Salazar pleaded guilty on December 4, 2008, to Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.
In May 2008, Special Agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration in Phoenix began working with counterparts from Colorado to identify a drug supplier in Phoenix. Special Agents arrested Garibaldi-Salazar and three other individuals after they negotiated the sale of methamphetamine. Agents stopped the individuals after a meeting where a sample was shown and discovered three additional pounds of methamphetamine in a hidden compartment in the car they were driving.
During the hearing, Judge Campbell noted that this was a very serious crime involving large amounts of a very dangerous drug that could have impacted the lives of thousands of individuals. Co-defendant Manuel Zazueta-Felix was sentenced to 150 months prison on March 2, 2009 and admitted that he had obtained the methamphetamine in a home invasion at the time of his arrest. Co-defendant Francisco Javier Gonzalez-Beltran was sentenced to 41 months prison on February 17, 2009 after the judge determined he played a lesser role in the offense. The remaining defendant’s sentencing hearing is pending.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Mesa Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Brian G. Larson, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-08-572-PHX-DGC
RELEASE NUMBER: 2009-119(Garibaldi-Salazar)
