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Honduran National Sentenced to 10 Years for Meth Trafficking, Firearms Crimes
NORFOLK, Va. – In a devastating blow to the city’s streets, a Honduran national was sentenced to 10 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.
Delvin Antonio Cruz-Melgar, 25, was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney Jr. after a lengthy investigation by the Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD) and other law enforcement agencies.
According to court documents, the VBPD responded to a report of an unconscious person in a car and found Cruz-Melgar asleep behind the wheel of a red Dodge that had been involved in a hit-and-run accident with another vehicle about 90 minutes earlier. During the search, officers discovered a loaded Walther PPX 9mm handgun in his waistband, as well as $760 in cash.
The search also yielded a meth pipe in plain view, a second meth pipe, a plastic bag containing 4.57 grams of meth, and a black bag containing 225.44 grams of meth. Additionally, detectives located a stolen Akkar Churchill Model 612 12-gauge shotgun, a digital scale, multiple cellphones, and ammunition in the vehicle.
“This case is a prime example of the ongoing efforts to combat methamphetamine trafficking and gun violence in our communities,” said Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “I commend the bravery and professionalism of the VBPD and other law enforcement agencies involved in this investigation.”
The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence. The PSN program is designed to foster trust and legitimacy in our communities, support community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring, set focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measure the results.
“This sentence serves as a warning to those who would bring methamphetamine and guns onto our streets,” said Craig Kailimai, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division. “We will continue to work tirelessly to keep our communities safe and hold those responsible accountable.”
Cruz-Melgar was charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release.
Key Facts
- State: Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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