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A Mexican national arrested a year ago in Ocean View with 184 grams of heroin (about 6.4 ounces) and 176 grams of methamphetamine (about 6.2 ounces) has been sentenced to 12 1/2 years in federal prison.

According to Acting U.S. Attorney Kenneth M. Sorenson, 49-year-old Juan Carlos Espinoza Lopez also had a Colt AR-15 rifle loaded with 27 rounds of ammunition when he was apprehended in April 2024.

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Espinoza-Lopez, who was in the country illegally and had been removed from the U.S. on four prior occasions, pleaded guilty in December to charges of intent to distribute methamphetamine and heroin, being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and illegal reentry.

At Espinoza Lopez’s sentencing Thursday, Chief U.S. District Judge Derrick K. Watson said that Espinoza Lopez’s drug dealing, which was poisoning the community, was aggravated by the defendant’s possession of a loaded firearm as well as his illegal presence in the U.S.

Watson further noted Espinoza Lopez’s two prior felony convictions made it “difficult” to accept his statement of remorse.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Hawaii Police Department.