A 29-year-old Mexican national, arrested as part of an operation led by the Justice Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), pleaded guilty Monday to possession with attempt to distribute methamphetamine and to possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores.
During Monday’s plea hearing, Jesus Ponce Dominguez admitted to possessing with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. He also admitted to possessing 12 firearms that he used while trafficking the drug in Tulsa. In total, Dominguez possessed a combination of seven pistols, one shotgun and four rifles.
Dominguez was arrested in December 2018 after it was discovered that he was distributing methamphetamine transported from Mexico into the Northern District of Oklahoma. Investigators later discovered 17 pounds of methamphetamine, two pounds of heroin, and multiple firearms at an apartment and storage unit Dominguez rented in Tulsa.
“The United States must disrupt the flow of drugs over the border from Mexico and dismantle the organizations trafficking them,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “Heroin and methamphetamine are modern day plagues on society. Shame on Mr. Dominguez for profiting off of other people’s addictions.”
U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell accepted Dominguez’s plea and set sentencing for Oct. 1, 2019.
The Tulsa Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are the investigative agencies.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Duncombe is prosecuting the case.
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