A Valley man was was sentenced Thursday in a federal courtroom in Fresno to 26 years in prison for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a gun in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

The case was heard by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd.

118 Pounds of Methamphetamine Seized

According to a news release, Denair resident Francisco Javier Ochoa-Anaya, 49, received a shipment of approximately 118 pounds of methamphetamine which law enforcement agents seized from his vehicle. Authorities say they also discovered a kilogram of cocaine, five loaded weapons, high capacity ammunition magazines, a bulletproof vest and drug-related items in Ochoa’s vehicle.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Ochoa enlisted co-defendant Victoria Rodriguez to assist in weighing and packaging the methamphetamine. Rodriguez is serving a 30-month sentence.

“Methamphetamine continues to be a scourge in California with devastating consequences to drug users and our communities,” said Scott.

Participating Agencies

The Attorney’s Office said the case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Sheriff’s Special Investigations Unit, including agents from the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department, the California Highway Patrol, the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office, Stanislaus County Probation, and the Ceres Police Department.