Drug Trafficker Had 17 Pounds of Methamphetamine

Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison

A California man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison, with parole eligibility in 10 years. Juan Cabrera-Bonilla previously pled guilty to Trafficking a Controlled Substance 400 Grams or More.

In January of this year, Cabrera-Bonilla was pulled over for speeding by a Washoe County Sheriff’s K9 deputy. The defendant told the deputy that he and his wife were driving from Fresno to Reno to gamble in the casinos. During the conversation, Cabrera-Bonilla displayed several nervous behaviors and gave inconsistent statements.

The K9 conducted a free air sniff of the vehicle and indicated there were narcotics. While being placed in handcuffs, the defendant made statements such as “it’s my fault” and “everything in the car in mine,” while also mentioning methamphetamine. During a search of the car, deputies discovered more than 17 pounds of methamphetamine.

During sentencing, Deputy District Attorney Mike Vieta-Kabell asked the Court to impose the lengthy sentence of 25 years by pointing out the shocking amount of methamphetamine that the Defendant was caught with. The Court agreed that the quantity of methamphetamine posed a grave danger to the community.

The Honorable Judge Kathleen Sigurdson presided over the case and imposed the sentence.