Armed Meth Trafficker Sentenced to 17+ Years

PHOENIX, Arizona Ildefonso Machado-Molina, 31, a citizen of the Republic of Mexico and resident of Phoenix, Ariz., was sentenced here by U.S. District Judge Paul G. Rosenblatt to 17.5 years (210 months) of imprisonment, a $1,000 fine, and a 60-month term of supervised release to follow his release and deportation. Machado-Molina pleaded guilty on September 14, 2009 to Conspiracy To Possess Methamphetamine with Intent To Distribute. From approximately January 2008 to November 2008, Machado-Molina conspired with others to deal large quantities of methamphetamine in the Phoenix area. Machado-Molina received large shipments of high-purity methamphetamine from Mexico, and then delivered smaller quantities of the high-purity drug to be diluted (or cut) into a less pure form. Machado-Molina also delivered the high-purity drug directly to wholesale customers. Machado-Molina was assisted in the distribution by his brother, Victor Machado-Molina. The diluted methamphetamine was delivered to co-defendant Fidel Rosales-Delgado, who ultimately delivered the mixtures to customers. When arrested on November 21, 2008 in Phoenix, Machado-Molina and his co-conspirators were in possession of at least 10 firearms and 10.56 pounds of methamphetamine; four vehicles; and $18,524 in U.S. currency. Co-conspirator Fidel Rosales-Delgado was sentenced to 10 years in prison in November 2009. Victor Machado-Molina pleaded guilty to the conspiracy in October 2009 and will be sentenced February 9, 2010 before Judge Paul G. Rosenblatt. The investigation in this case was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Scottsdale Police Department.