Las Vegas man gets 11 years as leader in international drug ring

A Las Vegas man was sentenced to 11 years and three months in prison Tuesday for his leadership role in an international drug trafficking ring broken up by undercover FBI agents.

Federal prosecutors had sought 14 years behind bars for Jesus Guadalupe Felix Burgos, but U.S. District Judge James Mahan opted for the lesser sentence.

Mahan also ordered Burgos, 26, a Mexican citizen, to serve five years of supervised release after he gets out of prison.

During the course of the two-year investigation, which began in Montana and ended in Las Vegas with the help of court-approved wiretaps, authorities recovered 2 pounds of nearly pure methamphetamine, "Ice," smuggled from Mexico.

In all, 10 members of the drug ring were indicted in Las Vegas in 2011.

Burgos pleaded guilty in February to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.

He also admitted trafficking in drugs during an unusual appearance as a defense witness at the federal trial of one of his co-defendants, Nancy Mageno, who had been translating for him during the conspiracy. A jury convicted Mageno last week.

Seven other members of the drug ring pleaded guilty, and another defendant has yet to be apprehended.

In seeking the tougher sentence, Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen Bliss told Mahan that Burgos played a key role in the drug trafficking conspiracy.

The methamphetamine was obtained from Sinaloa, a region in the northwest Mexico known as a haven for that country's violent drug cartels, Bliss said.

"He was a tool in a large-scale organization that was supplying and promoting probably the most despicable drug in the United States," Bliss said.

She asked Mahan to send a "message that we're not going to tolerate this drug" in Nevada.

When given a chance to address the judge, Burgos, in chains and jail garb, apologized and expressed remorse for his actions.

"I was only trying to provide money for my family, and I did it the wrong way," Burgos said through an interpreter.

He told Mahan that he regretted his actions "from the bottom of my heart" and sought leniency so that he could get a legitimate job and be reunited with his family.

In an emotional, handwritten letter to Mahan, Burgos earlier said he was committed to turning his life around.

He said he has been "scared straight" by his time behind bars since his arrest and vowed never to repeat his criminal conduct.

In the end, Mahan described Burgos as a "cog in the machinery" of the drug trafficking organization.

But he said the lighter sentence was "appropriate" because he wasn't sure how high up Burgos was in the chain of command.

Contact Jeff German at jgerman@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-8135.