Date: 11-03-2018

Case Style:

Case Number: 1:18-cr-00401-AA

Judge: Ann L. Aiken

Court: United States District Court for the District of Oregon (Jackson County)

Plaintiff's Attorney: Nathan J. Lichvarcik and Adam E. Delph

Defendant's Attorney: Donald Scales

Description: Medford, OR - Talent, Oregon Man Pleads Guilty to Distribute Cocaine and Trading Cocaine for Firearms

Jonathan Alan Ochoa, 31, of Talent, Oregon, pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

According to court documents, between July and August 2017, Ochoa agreed and conspired with co-defendants Gonzalo Manzo, Jr. and Rodolfo Quevedo to send more than 500 grams of cocaine from California to Oregon to sell and distribute to others. During this time, Ochoa and Manzo negotiated a sale of cocaine with an undercover agent from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) in exchange for multiple firearms.

On August 17, 2017, at Manzo’s request, Quevedo transported approximately 1000 grams of cocaine from California and delivered it to Ochoa in the Medford area. The firearms and cash were intended to be transported back to California but agents arrested Ochoa and his co-conspirators and the firearms were seized by law enforcement.

Ochoa faces a maximum sentence of life in prison, a $5 million fine and four years of supervised release. He will be sentenced on February 21, 2019 before U.S. District Court Judge Ann Aiken. Manzo pleaded guilty to the same charges on August 27, 2018. Quevedo also faces criminal charges; his case is pending in federal court.

This case was investigated by ATF.

The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

Charges:

21:841(a)(1), (b)(1)(B)(ii)(II) and 846; Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Cocaine; 21:853 ; Forfeiture Allegation
(1)
18:924(c)(1)(A)(i); Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; 18:924(d) and 28:2461(c); Second Forfeiture Allegation
(2)

Outcome: 10/29/2018 122 Minutes of Proceedings: Entry of Plea Hearing held before Magistrate Judge Mark D. Clarke for Defendant Jonathan Alan Ochoa. Defendant sworn and testifies. Guilty plea entered as to counts 1 and 2. Court Orders that a Presentence Investigation Report be prepared and submitted. Sentencing is set for 2/21/2019 at 01:00PM in Medford Courtroom 2 before Judge Ann L. Aiken.Counsel Present for Plaintiff: Judith Harper on behalf of Adam Delph. Counsel Present for Defendant: Donald Scales. (USPO Present: Matthew Greive) (Court Reporter Dennis Apodaca) (rsm) (Entered: 10/29/2018)
10/29/2018 123 Consent to Rule 11 Plea in a Felony Case before U.S. Magistrate as to Defendant Jonathan Alan Ochoa. (rsm) (Entered: 10/30/2018)
10/29/2018 124 Plea Agreement as to Jonathan Alan Ochoa (rsm) (Entered: 10/30/2018)

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

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