San Jose gang member Eduardo Arriaga, also known as ‘Moreno,’ was sentenced to 19 years in prison for trafficking crystal methamphetamine and possessing guns, announced United States Attorney Brian J. Stretch and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent in Charge John F. Bennett.
Arriaga, 41, of San Jose, was the eighth defendant sentenced in a proactive operation by the FBI’s Santa Clara County Violent Gang Task Force targeting gang members selling methamphetamine in Santa Clara County.
According to the evidence presented at trial, Arriaga has been a Sureño gang member for over 20 years. On April 29, 2012, Arriaga possessed a pound of crystal methamphetamine and sold a half-ounce of it to a confidential informant working for the FBI. Arriaga, believing the confidential informant was a Sureño gang member from Southern California, conducted the drug deal out of his garage in San Jose while armed with a handgun.
Approximately two months later, in the same garage, the confidential informant witnessed Arriaga with approximately a half-pound of additional crystal methamphetamine and saw Arriaga sell a portion of the methamphetamine to another Sureño gang member. During that drug deal, Arriaga had two different handguns in his garage.
Arriaga was indicted on July 31, 2013, and charged with one count of distributing methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841, and one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c). After a one-week trial, a jury convicted him of both counts. In reaching its verdict, the jury found that Arriaga possessed 50 grams or more of crystal methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it.
In addition to Arriaga’s prison term, Judge Edward J. Davila imposed a five-year term of supervised release and a $200 special assessment.
Arriaga’s indictment was part of the FBI’s crackdown on Sureño gangs in Santa Clara County. The FBI’s investigation into these gangs culminated in eight separate indictments alleging the distribution and conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine throughout Santa Clara County. The defendants charged in the crackdown include the following:
LAURA GARCIA a/k/a ‘Blinky’ (Distribution of Methamphetamine and Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine) CR 13-00508 LHK (9/24/14) 65 months
VANESSA PULIDO a/k/a ‘Bunny’ (Distribution of Methamphetamine and Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine) CR 13-00508 LHK (12/9/14) 24 months home detention
RAFAEL MEDINA a/k/a ‘Conejo’ (Distribution and Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine) CR 13-00507 LHK (10/22/14) 75 months
RAUL VALLE MORFIN a/k/a ‘Green Eyes’ (Distribution of Methamphetamine) CR 13-00509 DLJ (6/19/14) 78 months
JESUS QUINONES a/k/a ‘Canas’ (Distribution of Methamphetamine) CR 13-00503 DLJ (10/9/14) 60 months
JAIRO QUINTANA a/k/a ‘Hido’ (Distribution of Methamphetamine and Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine) CR 13-00506 LHK (7/23/14) 70 months
MARIA SALINAS a/k/a ‘Grumpy’ (Distribution of Methamphetamine) CR 13-00504 LHK (6/4/14)
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Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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