Miguel Tafolla-Montoya, Methamphetamine Conspiracy, West Virginia 2016

A Mexican national has pleaded guilty to his role in a California-to-West Virginia methamphetamine conspiracy.

Miguel Tafolla-Montoya, 31, entered his guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine in federal court in Charleston, West Virginia.

Tafolla-Montoya admitted that on March 19, 2016, he arrived in Huntington after traveling from California to pick up money for a delivery of crystal methamphetamine.

Cara Linn Monasmith and Kelly Newcomb, codefendants of Tafolla-Montoya, had previously driven approximately 10 pounds of crystal methamphetamine from California to Huntington for delivery.

Tafolla-Montoya further admitted that he had helped conceal the drugs in the spare tire of the car that Monasmith and Newcomb used to transport the methamphetamine.

Tafolla-Montoya was arrested prior to collecting any money for that drug delivery.

Tafolla-Montoya additionally admitted that near the end of February 2016, he had helped conceal 10 pounds of crystal methamphetamine in a vehicle that transported drugs from California to Louisville.

Furthermore, Tafolla-Montoya admitted his involvement in a drug deal for crystal methamphetamine that took place in late December 2015 in the parking garage of the Embassy Suites in Charleston.

Tafolla-Montoya faces at least five and up to 40 years in federal prison when he is sentenced on December 8, 2016.

This prosecution is the result of a multi-agency investigation that led to an eight-count indictment implicating 14 defendants, including Tafolla-Montoya.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdwv/pr/mexican-national-latest-plead-guilty-role-california-west-virginia-drug-conspiracy