DENVER (LAWFUEL) – Isaac Pena-Rascon, age 24, of Mesa County, Colorado, was sentenced earlier this week to serve 42 months (3 and ½ years) in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, United States Attorney Troy A. Eid and DEA Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey D. Sweetin announced. The prison sentence was pronounced by Senior U.S. District Court Judge John L. Kane. Following his incarceration, Senior Judge Kane ordered Pena-Rascon to serve 3 years of supervised release. In addition, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) placed an immigration detainer on him. Pena-Rascon was remanded into custody and ordered to start serving his sentence immediately.
Isaac Pena-Rascon was arrested based on a Criminal Complaint on March 17, 2008. He pled guilty before Senior Judge Kane on August 14, 2008. He was sentenced on November 3, 2008. The case against Pena-Rascon’s co-defendant, Cesar Armando Perez-Coronel, is pending.
According to facts contained in the indictment, as well as the stipulated facts contained in the plea agreement, on February 19, 2008, Pena-Rascon met a person at a fast food restaurant in Clifton, Colorado. While at the restaurant, the defendant agreed to sell the person 3 kilograms of cocaine. DEA Agents then took the defendant into custody.
“It turned out to be an expensive fast-food stop,” said U.S. Attorney Troy Eid. “Distribute cocaine and you may well go to federal prison.”
“Cocaine trafficking continues to be a major threat to the safety of our communities,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey D. Sweetin. “DEA will continued to do our part investigating major cocaine criminal organizations operating in Colorado, profiting from misery caused by cocaine abuse.”
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Western Colorado Drug Task Force, including the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office and the Grand Junction Police Department.
Pena-Rascon was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Wyatt Angelo.
