Jose Alfredo Varela-Meraz, Methamphetamine Conspiracy, Minnesota 2013

MINNEAPOLIS—A chilling tale of methamphetamine distribution unfolded in federal court in St. Paul yesterday, where a 25-year-old man pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute the deadly substance. Jose Alfredo Varela-Meraz, with no known address, admitted to crimes that put countless lives at risk.

According to the evidence presented, Varela-Meraz conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine from the fall of 2009 through April 20, 2011. During this period, he obtained quantities of methamphetamine from various sources in Minnesota, Arizona, and elsewhere, distributing it to mid-level dealers.

On March 25, 2010, police arrested Varela-Meraz in Minneapolis, seizing 1,131.3 grams of methamphetamine and a loaded nine-millimeter handgun from his possession. This significant evidence supported the charges against him.

Varela-Meraz pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute 500 or more grams of methamphetamine and one count of using, carrying, and possessing a firearm during and in relation to a drug-trafficking crime. With the possible maximum penalty of life in federal prison for each offense, Judge Susan Richard Nelson will determine his sentence at a future hearing, yet to be scheduled.

The case is a testament to the collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, the Minnesota State Patrol, and the police departments of Maplewood, Minneapolis, and Roseville. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas M. Hollenhorst.

As a reminder of the devastating effects of methamphetamine, the public is encouraged to visit http://www.justice.gov/dea/pr/multimedia-library/publications/drug_of_abuse.pdf#page=48 to learn more.

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