The Department of Justice says a Reno man was sentenced to more than eight years in federal prison on Monday after he transported 10 pounds of methamphetamine from California for sale in Nevada.

The DOJ says 29-year-old Leon DeJesus Munera pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

According to court documents, on April 24, 2018, co-defendant Jose Mora asked Munera to drive to Orange County, California, to pick up a load of methamphetamine for him. Munera and co-defendant Kelsea Riley drove to California to pick up the drugs. The DOJ says upon arrival in California, Munera picked up six large bundles of methamphetamine, weighing ten pounds, in the parking lot of a restaurant near an amusement park. The DOJ says on their return drive to Reno, Munera and Riley were stopped by police and the methamphetamine was recovered. Authorities say in addition to drug trafficking, Munera assisted Mora with transporting firearms to co-defendant Alberto Acosta.

These charges stem from an investigation by the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force with assistance from federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, including the Reno Police Department and the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office. 

Munera and 16 co-defendants were charged for their alleged roles in the drug conspiracy. All 16 defendants have pleaded guilty. Two have been sentenced, and the remainder await sentencing.

(DOJ contributed to this report.)