Men convicted of dealing drugs sentenced to decades in prison

Two men who were convicted by a jury last month of dealing drugs, following an arrest that netted more than 25 pounds of heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine, were sentenced Friday to decades in prison.

Luciano Molina Rios, 45, and Miguel A. Trujeque-Magana, 32, were sentenced in Clark County Superior Court to 332 months and 240 months in prison, respectively.

Rios was found guilty of possessing methamphetamine and cocaine with the intent to deliver, and Trujeque-Magana was found guilty of possessing cocaine with the intent to deliver and two counts of first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm. Both men were found guilty of heroin possession, and possessing a firearm as an alien.

The men were arrested in November after a multi-agency investigation into a drug trafficking operation led police to the Evergreen Park Apartments in east Vancouver, according to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.

There, authorities reported finding loaded firearms — including a suspected stolen rifle — $220,000 in cash, and 6.5 pounds of heroin, 3.8 pounds of cocaine and 15.4 pounds of methamphetamine. Investigators estimated the total street value of the drugs to be $270,000.

The jury also found there were multiple aggravating factors and enhancements to the charges: possessing weapons while dealing drugs, dealing near school bus stops and having a substantial amount of drugs.

The enhancements led to the lengthy sentences. In Rios’ case, 264 months of his sentence were from enhancements, and 144 months of Trujeque-Magana’s sentence were from enhancements.

Neither man spoke during sentencing.