Two defendants in the sale of more than 80 grams of methamphetamine to undercover officers were sentenced Monday to prison.
Felipe Moreno-Renteria, 24, of Dayton, was sentenced to five years in Nevada State Prison for trafficking in a controlled substance. He must serve a minimum of two years before he is eligible for parole.
Ignacio Rodriguez-Ibarra, 29, of Carson City, was sentenced to three years in Nevada State Prison for conspiracy to violate the Uniform Controlled Substances Act.
District Judge Michael Gibbons suspended Rodriguez-Ibarra's prison sentence and placed him on three years probation which includes six more months in Douglas County Jail.
Speaking through an interpreter, the suspects alleged that co-defendant Felipe Ledezma-Aguilar, 28, of Carson City, was the ringleader in the transaction which took place Dec. 6 in the parking lot at Old Navy.
The methamphetamine, which was recovered, had a street value of $13,000, according to officers.
On Feb. 13, District Judge Dave Gamble sentenced Ledezma-Aguilar to 10 years in Nevada State Prison with parole eligibility after 30 months.
Gibbons said Monday he didn't believe the suspects' stories that they "were in the wrong place at the wrong time."
"Each defendant stated they were not involved in any transaction. They didn't know what was happening," Gibbons said.
"The court does not believe the explanation of either suspect that they simply were there," Gibbons said.
Lawyer Matthew Ence, representing Rodriguez-Ibarra, said he attended Ledezma-Aguilar's sentencing and the defendant made a point to say the co-defendants had nothing to do with the transaction.
"They got him there to take him shopping," Ence said. "(Ledezma-Aguilar) did this on the side."
Lawyer Derrick Lopez said his client, Moreno-Renteria, realized that his story was not very believable.
"He's the one who delivered the package to Ledezma-Aguilar. He was facing 25 years, or life in prison if he took it to trial. He recognized he was in big trouble and wanted to cut his losses. He didn't know until he got arrested it was a drug deal," Lopez said.
Prosecutor Tom Gregory agreed that officials probably will never know the full extent of the defendants' involvement.
"They can sit here and deny it all they want. We think they were involved but to a different degree," Gregory said.
Speaking through a court interpreter, Moreno-Renteria continued to deny his involvement.
"The other man (Ledezma-Aguilar), he was the only one responsible for the crime. He recognized we didn't know anything. I don't understand why we are facing such serious charges," he said.
"It's simple," Gibbons said. "The state believes there is enough evidence to show you were involved in drug trafficking. The state recognizes you were less involved, that's why you were given a reduced charge. You were offered a trial and you said no. The court believes you are guilty."
Both man face deportation and are on holds by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
