4 Vegas men plead guilty to meth distribution

By Mary Manning

Friday, Oct. 2, 2009 | 4:58 p.m.

Four men pleaded guilty this week to participating in a drug trafficking conspiracy in Las Vegas that involved selling about 2 pounds of pure methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $37,000.

U.S. Attorney Daniel G. Bogden of Nevada said a jury trial in the case began this week before U.S. District Judge James C. Mahan.

Jose Ramirez-Alvarez, 31, pleaded guilty Monday after the jury was selected, Bogden said. Raymundo Arias-Ceja, 36, Juan Carlos Nunez-Romero, 27, and Daniel Castaneda-Martinez, 40, all from Las Vegas, pleaded guilty on Wednesday during the trial.

The four were indicted on the charges in December 2008.

In November 2008, a person who was cooperating with the Drug Enforcement Administration negotiated a purchase of 2 pounds of methamphetamine for $37,000, authorities said.

Authorities monitored a site near James Street and Kaibab Avenue in Las Vegas at about 11:30 a.m. Dec. 4 during the exchange. The four men produced about 2 pounds of 99.5 percent pure meth wrapped in two plastic bags, court records said.

A search of a vehicle driven by Arias-Ceja and Nunez-Romero revealed a hidden compartment in the glove box area containing about $3,000.

A second vehicle driven by Castanada-Martinez rammed a DEA agent's truck in an apparent attempt to avoid being caught. The passenger, Ramirez-Alvarez, fled on foot after throwing out a bag that contained meth, authorities said. He was captured after a brief foot pursuit.

Ramirez-Alvarez is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 11. The other three are scheduled for sentencing Jan. 12. They face up to life in prison and a fine up to $4 million.

The case was investigated by the DEA, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and detectives and task force officers from Metro Police. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bradley W. Giles and Patrick Walsh.