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Last updated on Thursday, January 26, 2012
(WASHINGTON) - 39-year-old John Gootee, of Washington, was sentenced to 120 months in prison Monday by U.S. District Judge Jane E. Magnus-Stinson following his guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
"Working with federal agents and local law enforcement, we have wiped out a dangerous criminal organization in this community," said U.S. Attorney Joseph Hogsett in a press release. "Judge Magnus-Stinson's sentencing decision ensures that Mr. Gootee won't walk the streets of Washington for a long, long time."
Gootee served as a drug courier and distributor for a Washington-area methamphetamine and marijuana trafficking operation allegedly led by Jose Vasquez-Silva. The organization operated from approximately August 2009 through Dec. 9, 2010, and distributed approximately 15 pounds of methamphetamine per month in Daviess and Knox counties.
Federal agencies that assisted in this investigation included the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Marshal's Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. State and local agencies involved included the Indiana State Police, as well as the Vincennes Police Department, Washington Police Department, Daviess County Sheriff's Department, Vigo County Sheriff's Department, and Gibson County Sheriff's Department.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Bradley A. Blackington, who prosecuted the case for the government, Judge Magnus-Stinson also imposed five years supervised release following Gootee's release from prison. During the period of supervised release, Gootee must undergo drug testing. In addition, Gootee was fined in the amount of $500.
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