By CELESTE GRACEY
RENTON REPORTER
A Renton man pleaded guilty to his connection to the notorious drug cartel "La Familia" Feb. 4.
Arturo Barajas Garcia, 32, acknowledged that he managed the local distribution of methamphetamine and cocaine, according to U.S. District Court documents.
His Oct. 21 arrest was a part of a massive nationwide crackdown on the cartel.
Police found about 200 grams of methamphetamine and a .45-caliber gun at Garcia's residence in Benson Hill on the 15800 block of 118th Avenue Southeast.
He acquired the drugs "for the purpose of reselling the narcotics to others in the community," according to the documents.
Garcia is expected to receive 13 to 17 years in prison.
As a part of his agreement, he also forfeited about $230,000 cash, seven guns, a 2008 Chevy Silverado and a house in Monroe, according to the documents.
The documents describe a court-authorized phone tap, where Garcia arranged a deal for six pounds of methamphetamine.
Sending a co-conspirator to northern California, he paid $47,000 for the drugs.
During the Oct. 21 arrests, police found about 950 grams of methamphetamine in the same 2000 Honda Accord used to transport the drugs from California.
Garcia has been charged with conspiracy to distribute and money laundering.
His sentencing is scheduled for May 7. He's currently in police custody.
This article was originally published in the Renton Reporter on February 8, 2010.
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