Meth Dealer Cisneros Gets 8 Years in Nevada

RENO, Nev. – Saul Cisneros, 33, of Carson City is headed to federal prison for eight years after admitting to peddling methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Daniel G. Bogden announced Monday. The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Judge Robert C. Jones, isn’t just for the current charge; Cisneros also received 24 months consecutive for violating his supervised release. He’d initially pleaded guilty on September 26, 2016, to conspiracy to distribute at least five grams of the highly addictive drug, following an indictment in June 2015.

The bust stemmed from an April 2015 operation where a DEA confidential source contacted Cisneros looking to score an ounce of meth. The deal went down at a Carson City apartment complex, with Cisneros and his accomplice, Lisa Rose Jones, 37, directing the source to a specific unit. Instead of a full ounce, Cisneros confessed he only had half, promising the rest would arrive shortly, requiring a return trip. Jones laid out 13.3 grams of methamphetamine – the actual weight of the delivered portion – and the source left $300 on the bed, which Cisneros promptly pocketed.

This wasn’t an isolated incident. The investigation quickly revealed a wider network of drug traffickers operating in Lyon County and Carson City. Co-defendant Lisa Rose Jones pleaded guilty on March 29, 2016, and received an 18-month prison sentence. But the ripples extended further. Michael Perez, 38, of Dayton, and Sergio David Perez, 33, of Carson City, were also charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, and faced significantly harsher penalties: Perez received 168 months, and Sergio David Perez 97 months, both sentenced by Judge Jones.

The web thickened with additional charges. Juan Alvarez, 40, and Yuritsi Marquez, 35, both of Carson City, admitted to possessing at least 50 grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Marquez was sentenced to 366 days in prison on January 31, 2017, while Alvarez awaits his fate. Angelo Tello, 31, of Carson City, and his partner, Lorena Tello, 25, of Dayton, were implicated in money laundering related to the drug operation, along with Julio Contreras, 26, of Long Beach, CA, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering. Lorena Tello also received a 366-day sentence, while Angelo Tello and Contreras are still awaiting sentencing.

Federal authorities emphasized the collaborative nature of the investigation, a joint effort by the DEA, Lyon County Sheriff’s Office, Tri-County Narcotics Enforcement Task Force, and the Tri-County Gang Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. Keller prosecuted the case, highlighting the commitment to dismantling drug trafficking operations in Nevada. This case serves as a warning: dealing meth in the Silver State carries serious federal consequences.

The Cisneros sentencing, and the convictions of his associates, represent a significant blow to methamphetamine distribution in the region, though authorities acknowledge the fight against drug trafficking is far from over. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the ongoing efforts to stem the flow of illicit drugs into Nevada communities.