United States Attorney Richard B. Roper
Northern District of Texas

DALLAS GANG MEMBER SENTENCED TO MORE THAN 19 YEARS
IN FEDERAL PRISON, WITHOUT PAROLE, ON METHAMPHETAMINE CHARGES

DALLAS — Arturo Tinoco, 29, of Dallas, a member of the Eastside Homeboys gang, was sentenced yesterday to 292 months (more than 19 years) in federal prison, following his guilty plea in March to two counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. U.S. District Judge Barbara M.G. Lynn also ordered that Tinoco serve five years of supervised release.

According to the factual resume filed in the case, Tinoco admitted that he knowingly and intentionally possessed, with intent to distribute, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine in July 2006 and in February 2007. Specifically, on July 20, 2006, members of the Dallas Police Department saw Tinoco in a black Lincoln Town car driving eastbound in the 4700 block of Tremont Street in Dallas and stopped him for a traffic violation. He had outstanding warrants and was arrested; the car was impounded. Law enforcement found a bag containing methamphetamine in the trunk of the vehicle and Tinoco had $5920 on his person at the time.

On February 15, 2007, Tinoco was again stopped by Dallas Police Officers after he had committed a traffic violation. He couldn’t produce a driver’s license and when the officer checked Tinoco’s name on the computer, it showed that he had a suspended license. He was arrested and his vehicle was searched. Officers seized a .45 caliber weapon and at located at least 64 grams of methamphetamine in the trunk of the vehicle, which Tinoco admitted he intended for distribution. After this second arrest, he escaped after he had been handcuffed, but was located one month later, on March 17, 2007, and arrested. Law enforcement confiscated a total of $10,082 when he was arrested in March — funds believed to be drug proceeds as he was unemployed at the time.

U.S. Attorney Roper praised the investigative efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Dallas Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Camille Sparks prosecuted the case.

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