An illegal immigrant living in Prince William County known as “Mexicano” has been arrested on charges of running a cocaine and marijuana distribution ring in the Dale City area, according to documents filed in federal court in Alexandria.
David Gutierrez Sandoval, 31, reportedly told law enforcement officers that he was smuggled across the United States-Mexico border about a year before Prince William police took him into custody Oct. 7, documents said.
Law enforcement officials were led to Sandoval after a Prince William resident who was buying cocaine and marijuana from him was arrested and turned Sandoval in as the supplier, records said. The buyer was caught last spring with 7 pounds of marijuana and 3 ounces of cocaine.
The buyer, now a police informant, reportedly told officials that between December and May the informant had been meeting with Sandoval two to three times a week to buy about 5 pounds of marijuana and about 3 ounces of cocaine each time. The informant said at times Sandoval would accept handguns and jewelry as collateral for the drugs.
Under the direction of law enforcement, the defendant met with Sandoval to buy cocaine and marijuana seven times between May and October. Over the course of those meetings the informant purchased five pounds of marijuana and three ounces of cocaine. The two discussed, in recorded conversations, the purchase of nearly 3 pounds of cocaine.
On Oct. 7, on the same day law enforcement officials arrested Sandoval soon after he met with the informant for the last time, they searched Sandoval’s Dale City home and found 1 ounce of cocaine.
Hours earlier, they had arrested another individual loitering outside a store near where the informant had met with Sandoval. Police targeted the loiterer, a Hispanic male, because he appeared to be serving as a lookout for Sandoval. When police took the man into custody, they found more than 2 pounds of cocaine in his backpack. Police say the man told officers the drugs belonged to Sandoval.
No attorney has been listed yet for Sandoval, who was charged with conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine and marijuana.
