SAN JOSE – Jesus Alberto Bueno-Meza was sentenced today to 120 months in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute cocaine, announced United States Attorney Brian Stretch and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge John J. Martin.
Bueno-Meza, 48, a citizen of Mexico who was living in the San Jose area at the time of the offense, pleaded guilty on November 28, 2016, to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a)(1), and 841(b)(1)(A)(viii). According to the plea agreement, Bueno-Meza admitted he conspired with other individuals to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine between July 2013 and September 2015. He also admitted that, in furtherance of the conspiracy, he distributed cocaine and possessed with the intent to distribute cocaine on numerous occasions over his approximately two years of participation in the conspiracy.
Bueno-Meza was indicted by a federal grand jury on October 8, 2015. He was charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine, one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, three counts of use of a communication facility (telephone) to commit a felony drug offense, and one count of illegal re-entry after deportation.
The sentence was handed down by the Honorable Edward J. Davila, U.S. District Judge. In addition to the prison term, Judge Davila also sentenced Bueno-Meza to a five-year period of supervised release. The defendant currently is released on bond and has been ordered to begin serving his sentence on June 22, 2017.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Chinhayi Cadet is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Patricia Mahoney. This case is the product of an extensive investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, a focused multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force investigating and prosecuting the most significant drug trafficking organizations throughout the United States by leveraging the combined expertise of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.