The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa reports two California men were sentenced Monday to a combined 55-years in prison for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine in the Southern District of Iowa and elsewhere. Senior United States District Court Judge James E. Gritzner sentenced 33-year old Manuel Espinoza, of Pico Rivera, California, to 240 months (20-years) of imprisonment for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine, and to 120 months (10-years) of imprisonment for being a Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm, with the sentences to run concurrently (at the same time). Espinoza was also sentenced to five years of supervised release to follow the term of imprisonment.

23-year old Jose Luis Tizoc, a resident of San Diego, California, was also sentenced by  Judge to 300 months (25-years) of imprisonment for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine, and five years of supervised release to follow the term of imprisonment.

A jury convicted the men at trial on June 27th, 2016, finding them guilty on all counts charged, being Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and Prohibited Persons in Possession of a Firearm. The case was the result of a large-scale investigation by law enforcement of methamphetamine trafficking that occurred in the Omaha-Council Bluffs metro area for approximately one year.

Beginning at least as early as November of 2014, and continuing through September of 2015, Espinoza and Tizoc conspired with multiple other individuals to distribute at least 4.5 kilograms of methamphetamine in the area. Other defendants who pled guilty for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine and have been sentenced by Judge Gritzner, include:
• Salvador Nunez Trejo, 120 months (10-years) of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release;
• Jessica Moreno, 35 months (2.9-years) of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release;
• Jaime Castillo Gomez, 168 months (14-years) of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release;
• Kristopher Hatch, 151 months (12.6-years) of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release;
• Jane Song, 60 months (5-years) of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release;
• Grant M. Carman, 120 months (10-years) of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release; and,
• Greg M. Price, 120 months (10-years) of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Greater Omaha Safe Streets Task Force and the Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.