Alleged drug trafficker takes federal plea deal - News - MailTribune.com - Medford, OR

Mail Tribune (Medford, OR — Wayback)

2015-09-26

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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation  |  Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED   » NEWS NOW   Haggen adds Ashland store to list of closures       ...       Attacker's no-show at sentencing leaves victim without closure       ...       Monical sentenced to 32 years in federal bank robbery case       ...       Haggen adds Ashland store to list of closures       ...       Attacker's no-show at sentencing leaves victim without closure       ...       Monical sentenced to 32 years in federal bank robbery case       ...           COURTS Alleged drug trafficker takes federal plea deal Comment By Thomas Moriarty Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Thomas Moriarty Mail Tribune Posted Jun. 24, 2015 at 2:10 PM Updated Jun 24, 2015 at 3:34 PM By Thomas Moriarty Mail Tribune Posted Jun. 24, 2015 at 2:10 PM Updated Jun 24, 2015 at 3:34 PM »  Social News A 27-year-old Washington man pleaded guilty Monday in federal court to helping transport more than 14 pounds of methamphetamine into Oregon from California last December. Jaime Peña-Gallegas of Centralia pleaded guilty to a single count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Under the plea agreement, filed in U.S. District Court in Medford, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and five years of supervised release. Peña-Gallegas and Gerardo Flores-Zambrano, 43, were arrested by Oregon State Police after a traffic stop Dec. 29 near milepost 29 on Interstate 5 in Medford. According to an OSP affidavit, the trooper suspected the green Honda Accord Peña-Gallegas was driving was stolen, and Peña-Gallegas didn't have a driver's license. Flores-Zambrano and Peña-Gallegas gave conflicting stories about where they were headed, but reportedly they gave the trooper consent to search the vehicle. In an affidavit, the trooper noted there were three cellphones in the car but only two occupants , which he said is an indicator of possible drug-trafficking activity. After the trooper found a package of methamphetamine under the driver's seat, Flores-Zambrano told him there were 11 more in the trunk, the affidavit said. The trooper seized 14.67 pounds of meth from the car and arrested both men on charges of manufacture, delivery and possession. Both men were indicted on state charges by a Jackson County grand jury, but county prosecutors later dismissed the charges in light of a federal indictment. Peña-Gallegas' sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 23. Flores-Zambrano is set for a change of plea hearing July 6. Reach reporter Thomas Moriarty at 541-776-4471, or by email at [email protected] . Follow him at @ThomasDMoriarty . By Thomas Moriarty Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Thomas Moriarty Mail Tribune Posted Jun. 24, 2015 at 2:10 PM Updated Jun 24, 2015 at 3:34 PM » Comment or view comments   Reader Reaction »  STAY INFORMED   Email NewsLetter   Sign Up Today   Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed   Email newsletter   Sign Up Today   Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.    Privacy Policy  |  Terms of Service  |  Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501