By Cathy Locke
clocke@sacbee.com
A Union City man is the latest of several people to be sentenced for their involvement in a large-scale conspiracy to distribute cocaine from Mexico to the Sacramento area.
Jose Maria Meza-Portillo, 44, was sentenced Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Lawrence K. Karlton to 19 years and seven months in prison for conspiring to distribute cocaine, according to a U.S. Department of Justice news release. He pleaded guilty Nov. 4, 2009.
During the investigation, federal agents learned that Meza-Portillo was directing the payment of money from the sales of cocaine back to the suppliers in Mexico. On Mary 3, 2006, officers stopped a vehicle they believed was carrying money bound for Mexico and discovered nearly $1 million in cash hidden inside, the news release said.
Co-conspirators previously sentenced in the case include:
Luis Manuel Sanchez-Aceves, 29, of Richmond, sentenced on May 25 to 13 years in prison
Cristobal Navarro, 46, of Richmond, sentenced June 2 to 12 years and seven months in prison
Daniel Rosales, 26, or San Francisco, sentenced Sept. 29, 2009 to eight years in prison
Darius Louis, 38, of Richmond, sentenced May 25 to four years in prison.
Call The Bee's Cathy Locke, (916) 321-5287.









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