Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020 | 11:36 a.m.
RENO — A former state prison inmate who prosecutors say headed a northern Nevada drug trafficking ring has been sentenced to 14 years in federal prison, authorities said.
Jose Valentin Mora, 38, was sentenced Monday in U.S. District Court for his guilty pleas in October to conspiracy to possess and distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, court records show.
Mora’s court-appointed federal public defenders didn’t immediately respond Tuesday to messages.
Sixteen other co-defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury in the drug trafficking case, according to U.S. Attorney Nicholas Trutanich and FBI Special Agent in Charge Aaron Rouse. Fifteen pleaded guilty and have either been sentenced or await sentencing. One remains a fugitive.
Mora was known as Cholo and Magic. Court documents allege that he and co-conspirators worked together to possess and sell large amounts of methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin in and around Reno.
Agents reported seizing more than 12 pounds of methamphetamine in the case in 2018, as well as a .380-caliber handgun from Mora. He had previous convictions in state court in Washoe County, and served previous prison time for trafficking in a controlled substance.
Judge Miranda Du also sentenced Mora to five years of supervised release after prison.
