By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced today a leader of a drug trafficking ring they said used runners and dispatchers and catered to customers from Pierce, Thurston, Lewis, Kitsap, and Grays Harbor counties, was sentenced to just over 11 years in prison.
Sergio Omar Valencia Garcia, 35, previously residing in Tacoma and a citizen of Mexico was sentenced last week in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to 135 months for possession of heroin with intent to deliver and conspiracy to deliver heroin, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
In asking for a lengthy prison term, prosecutors noted the huge amount of heroin found in Valencia Garcia’s home; 55 pounds along with a large amount of cash, according to a news release.
He and other defendants were arrested June 9, 2010.
The investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Thurston County Narcotics Task Force, the Grays Harbor Drug Task Force and the Lakewood Police Department. Numerous other agencies assisted.
Hundreds of thousands of dollars, proceeds of the drug trade, was shipped to Mexico in hidden compartments built into vehicles, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Valencia Garcia most likely will be deported after he is released.
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Read background “News brief: Sixty-five pounds of heroin “off the menu” after sweep” from Thursday June 10, 2010, here
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
Why say “a resident of Mexico” this should read “Illegal Alien” this is exactly why Washington should follow suit with Arizona’s S.B. 1070
If he isn’t deported, then we know who to go after: The people who didn’t deport him!
But I must ask: If he had FIFTY FIVE POUNDS of heroin, why only 11 years? They give that out to people with only enough for personal use…. he should have gotten a LOT more than 11 years…