A woman who pleaded guilty to directing the Ogden segment of an international drug-trafficking ring almost two years ago and then fled to Mexico will spend 30 years in federal prison.
U.S. District Judge Dale Kimball sentenced Tracy Ann Sanchez, 34, of Ogden, to 360 months late Tuesday. Sanchez's group, "Los Chacales," or "the Jackals," is believed to have imported and distributed cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana from Mexico, through Arizona and southern California, to the Salt Lake City-Ogden area, Department of Justice officials said. Sanchez herself is believed to have been involved in distributing more than 50 pounds of meth and hundreds of pounds of marijuana.
Sanchez and about 50 others were indicted in June 2000 following an 18-month investigation that eventually involved 14 different law-enforcement agencies, from the Weber-Morgan Narcotics Strike Force and the Utah National Guard to the FBI and the then-Immigration and Naturalization Service. When Sanchez was arrested, she had three pounds of meth in her possession, justice officials said.
Sanchez originally faced 60 charges, but those were reduced as part of a Jan. 3, 2002, plea agreement.
On April 10, 2003, Kimball released Sanchez conditionally, pending her sentencing hearing. When she failed to report and submit to a urinalysis, U.S. Magistrate Judge Samuel Alba issued a warrant for her arrest. The FBI and U.S. Marshals Service then learned she had fled to Mexico.
However, in August, Sanchez tried to re-enter the United States via Laredo, Texas, using a false identity. She was arrested and returned to Utah to appear in court, justice officials said in a news release.
Federal prosecutors sought an obstruction of justice penalty enhancement during Sanchez's sentencing. Defense attorneys, however, argued for reduced penalties because of health problems Sanchez was facing. Kimball denied both requests.
The U.S. Attorney's Office credits the Department of Justice's Weed and Seed program for playing an important role in the case, from the initial investigation to Sanchez's ultimate conviction and sentencing. The program identifies "Weed and Seed sites" — areas of high crime activity — and focuses resources on them. The "weed" part of the program seeks to clear the areas of major criminals; the "seed" portion aims to provide the areas with prevention, intervention, treatment and neighborhood revitalization services.
Utah has three Weed and Seed sites: Salt Lake City, West Valley City and Ogden.
Sanchez has admitted the drug trade was her major source of income. Justice officials report that as part of her plea agreement, Sanchez went on record as saying, "I don't give a (expletive) who does dope. That's not my (expletive) business. I get my (expletive) money out of the dope, and that's all I give a (expletive) about."
In May, Juan Olmedo-Cruz, 32, Salt Lake City, was sentenced to 173 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to running a separate but cooperating segment of the drug ring in Salt Lake City.
E-mail: dsmeath@desnews.com