Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Las Vegas man sentenced to 13 years for drug, gun crimes

A convicted felon was sentenced to 13 years in federal prison and five years of supervised release after pleading guilty to possession with the intent to distribute almost one kilo of methamphetamine and unlawfully possessing several stolen firearms.

Jaime Barragan, 32, of Las Vegas, was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Gloria M. Navarro, said Daniel G. Bogden, U.S. Attorney for the District of Nevada.

In October 2009, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives initiated an investigation into a drug trafficking organization believed to be operating out of Las Vegas and led by Barragan. Over the following four months, ATF and Metro Police investigated and made controlled purchases of about 60 grams of methamphetamine from Barragan, authorities said.

In March last year, Barragan was arrested as he was exiting his vehicle and a federal search warrant for his residence was served. Authorities recovered about 10 grams of meth and $1,500 in cash from the vehicle. When searching the house, authorities recovered about 900 grams of methamphetamine, $15,000 in cash and three stolen handguns.

Because of a prior felony conviction in Nevada for possession of a controlled substance, Barragan is prohibited from possessing firearms.

Two other Las Vegas men who participated in the conspiracy were also convicted. Jose Luis Salgado, 33, and Gustavo Elizonlde Ponce, 30, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute meth and were sentenced to 70 months and 14 months in prison, respectively.

All three men are Mexican nationals who were living illegally in the U.S.

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