Arizona Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Methamphetamine Trafficking in Sacramento Area

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Jose Manuel Navarro, 65, of San Luis, Arizona, was sentenced Tuesday to 10 years in prison for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, in May 2019, a law enforcement officer working in an undercover capacity (UC) negotiated with an unknown male, using a Mexico telephone number, for the delivery of methamphetamine to the Sacramento area. The unknown male informed the UC that a third party would be calling the UC to coordinate an in-person meeting in the Sacramento area.

On May 19, 2019, Navarro called the UC and arranged to meet at a Target parking lot the following day. At the meeting, Navarro told the UC he had the “product” hidden in his truck. The two agreed to travel to a more discreet location to finish the deal. On the way to his location, a law enforcement officer pulled Navarro over for various traffic violations. Navarro consented to a search of his truck, and the officer found 68 pounds of methamphetamine. The methamphetamine was 99% pure.

This case was the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Team with assistance from the California Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian T. Kinsella prosecuted the case.