A 47-year-old South Lake Tahoe man who sold nearly 80 grams of cocaine to a confidential informant in four transactions was sentenced Monday to nine years in Nevada State Prison.
District Judge Michael Gibbons told Gustavo Hernandez-Gonzalez he would be eligible for parole in two years and would be deported.
In a long statement to the judge, the defendant, speaking through an interpreter, apologized.
"I am very repentant even though I am a victim of a lie. I shouldn't have done it, I shouldn't have been involved with drugs," he said.
Hernandez-Gonzalez claimed he was set up by the informant and that he never received any money.
He said he had used cocaine for 25 years.
Hernandez-Gonzalez said his four children, including six-month-old twins were born in the United States and would have to return to Mexico.
"After eight years in this country, I consider myself a hard-working person. I swear I am telling you the truth. I never sold drugs," Hernandez-Gonzalez said.
He pleaded guilty to trafficking in a controlled substance and has served a year in Douglas County and El Dorado County jails.
"You sold four times in Douglas County," Gibbons said.
"I find it hard to believe this was the first time. The only fact in your favor is that you have no prior criminal record. You could have been facing much, much longer time. I took into consideration you already served one year in jail," Gibbons said.
According to authorities, the transactions took place from Jan. 30-Feb. 14, 2008.
