LAS VEGAS – Steve Torres, 43, and Uriel Delgado, 37, both of Las Vegas, were sentenced Friday for selling large quantities of methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada announced.

According to court documents, between April and May 2018, Torres arranged and sold a total of 657 grams (approximately 1 ½ pounds) of methamphetamine to an undercover law enforcement officer. Co-defendants Jose Rosell and Uriel Delgado assisted Torres with two of the five sales. Torres, Delgado, and Rosell, were arrested after the fifth sale. Seventy-nine grams of methamphetamine were found during a later search of Torres’s vehicle and, during the arrest process, Rosell admitted to possessing methamphetamine in his home and consented to its search. A search of Rosell’s home produced 272 grams of methamphetamine, a .380 caliber firearm, and approximately $19,600.

This case was the product of an investigation by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

“Criminals who continue to engage in drug trafficking with no regard for our nation’s laws will be brought to justice,” said Francisco Burrola, special agent in charge for HSI Nevada. “HSI will continue to work closely with its federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to combat the serious public safety threat drugs pose to our communities.”

Torres pleaded guilty in July 2019 and was sentenced to 96 months in prison; Delgado pleaded guilty in July 2019 and was sentenced to four years in prison; and Rosell pleaded guilty in December 2018 and was sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison.

HSI agents enforce Title 21 of the U.S. Code, which covers the importation, distribution, manufacture and possession of illegal narcotics. HSI agents also enforce a wide range of criminal statutes including Title 18 and Title 19 which address general smuggling issues as well as customs violations.

HSI agents have extensive knowledge of the border environment and techniques employed by smuggling organizations to transport contraband into the United States. This expertise has been gained through years of experience in conducting undercover operations, utilizing confidential informants, special enforcement operations and conducting contraband smuggling investigations.

The methods used by smuggling organizations are always changing and through continued training, the use of emerging technologies and dedication, ICE has maintained its expertise in disrupting and dismantling these criminal organizations.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison Reese and Christopher Lin prosecuted the case.