A Fresno man has entered a guilty plea for his role in distributing methamphetamine, a case that sheds light on the continuing battle against drug trafficking in the region. Dario Mata-Manzo, aged 32, accepted the charges put forth by U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert.
In an operation that unfolded in June last year, Mata-Manzo was involved in a deal to sell pounds of meth to undercover officers, negotiations led to a price of $1,200 per pound. He was caught after delivering 8 pounds of crystal meth in Fresno, according to a statement by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The guilty plea is a culmination of efforts by an extensive network of enforcement agencies which include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, among others affiliated with the High Impact Investigation Team. This case also highlights the collaborative enforcement strategy under the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Initiative, an approach to stem a tide that ravages communities through substance abuse and the crime it begets.
Mata-Manzo now faces the possibility of life imprisonment, with a mandatory minimum of 10 years, and a hefty fine that could be as much as $10 million. His sentencing is set before U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston on Nov. 20, where factors ranging from statutory considerations to Federal Sentencing Guidelines will, inform the final decision.
The crackdown on Mata-Manzo's operation was conducted under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces program, an initiative that aims at identifying, and dismantling top-tier criminal organizations that pose a threat to public security.
