Man pleads guilty to 15-pound methamphetamine deal

FRESNO, Calif. — A 26-year-old Ceres man plead guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Tuesday, February 19.

According to court documents, Jose Manuel Sotelo-Mendoza and his co-defendant Oscar Ivan Salazar-Avalos, 28, delivered 15 pounds of meth to an undercover officer in Delano.

In pleading guilty, Salazar acknowledged that he and Sotelo had met his source of supply in Castaic to obtain 15 pounds of meth and intended to make $51,000 on the deal.

Salazar is scheduled for sentencing on April 8 and Sotelo is scheduled for sentencing on May 13.

They both face a minimum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine.