Minnesota Men Face Over a Decade for Meth Plot

Two Minnesota men have been handed down sentences of more than 11 years each for their roles in a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy. Isaias Vasquez-Amaya, 31, and Jose Nicolas Vasquez-Mendez, 30, both from Crystal, Minnesota, were sentenced January 26, 2015, by United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Details of their guilt emerged during sentencing hearings, revealing that Vasquez-Mendez distributed meth to informants from February 2014 to August 27, 2014. Vasquez-Amaya was involved in numerous controlled buys with undercover officers and was found responsible for the distribution of over 500 grams of pure methamphetamine. Both men were apprehended with more than 600 grams of pure meth during a traffic stop on August 27, 2014.

Each defendant received a sentence of 135 months’ imprisonment and must serve a subsequent 5-year term of supervised release. Vasquez-Amaya was assessed a $200 special fee, while Vasquez-Mendez faced a $100 assessment. Parole is not an option within the federal system.

The sentencing followed thorough investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), involving cooperation between the FBI, Iowa Department of Public Safety, Iowa State Patrol, North Central Iowa Narcotics Task Force, and the South Central Drug Investigation Unit in Minnesota. Assistant United States Attorney John Lammers prosecuted the case.

Court records for this case are accessible at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov, under file number 14-3047.

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