Nuestra Familia Gang Member Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking

SACRAMENTO, CA—Danny Pereda, aka T-Mighty, 29, of Salinas, was sentenced today to 20 years in prison for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine for the Nuestra Familia gang, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced. The Nuestra Familia is a violent Hispanic prison gang based within the California and federal prison systems whose members exert control over street-level Norteño gang members engaged in drug trafficking and violent crime.

According to court documents, from April 2004 until June 2007, Pereda distributed large amounts of cocaine and was one of the top methamphetamine distributors for the NF. At times, he received between one to four kilograms of cocaine for distribution every other day. He is the third defendant in this case to be sentenced.

Juan Gallegos, aka Wino, 36, of Salinas, was sentenced to 21 years and 10 months in prison, and Rebecca Guzman was sentenced to 14 years in prison. Two others have pleaded guilty and are scheduled to be sentenced in September.

This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The OCDETF Program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multi-level attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply.

This case is the product of an investigation by the FBI’s Stockton Violent Crime Task Force, the San Joaquin County Metropolitan Narcotics Task Force (METRO), the Stockton Police Department, the Salinas Police Department, the Watsonville Police Department, the Monterey County Sheriff’s Department, and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation into the activities of the NF.

When prosecuted in federal court, drug traffickers typically receive much harsher sentences. In addition to the longer sentences imposed, unlike state court prisoners who are released early on parole, there is no early release on parole in the federal system.