Cartel-based meth distributor sentenced in Chattanooga

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — A Chief U.S. District Judge sentenced a local meth trafficker to 292 months in prison on Friday. That is more than 24 years.

The U.S. Department of Justice said that 44-year-old Armando Mejia-Almazan pleaded guilty for indictment charges.

(Courtesy: MGN)

Those charges included conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine.

The DOJ said after Mejia-Almazan’s release, he will be supervised for five years. He may also be subject to deportation, they added.

Mejia-Almazan is a Mexican national. He was previously deported and unlawfully returned, according to officials.

Court documents show that he distributed over 50 kilograms of ice meth to a Chattanooga-based drug trafficking organization. He also used multiple Atlanta apartments to aid his drug trafficking.

Mejia-Almazan also acted under the direction of a Mexico-based meth broker that is affiliated with the Cartel de Jalisco Nuevo Generacion.

J. Todd Scott is the Special Agent in Charge and head of DEA’s Louisville Field Division. He said, “Mr. Mejia-Almazan had tentacles reaching down into Mexico, straight to the Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation Cartels, the two ruthless, violent, criminal organizations that are intentionally poisoning Americans to drive addiction.”