On July 13, 2010, Tulare County Superior Court Judge Joseph Kalashian imposed a prison sentence of six years on 25-year-old Giovanni Ochoa Torres of Visalia for transportation of methamphetamine, possession for sale of methamphetamine, and use of a false compartment within a vehicle.

On February 5, 2010, agents of the California Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement arrested Torres after locating five, one-pound bricks of methamphetamine hidden within Torres’ car. The narcotics were located within a speaker box in the trunk of his late model Buick. Torres transported the bricks of methamphetamine to the Visalia K Mart parking lot where he planned to sell them for $85,000. Minutes prior to his arrest, undercover agents observed Torres purchase and utilize a drill from K Mart to open the speaker box containing the bricks of methamphetamine.

Torres entered a plea of no contest to all charges on June 17, 2010. He further admitted a special allegation that he suffered a prior conviction for the transportation of narcotics in June of 2008.

This case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Matt Darby and investigated by special agents Alfredo Cardwood, Manuel Rocha and Mark Rodrigues of the California Department of Justice, Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement.

Contact Person: Assistant District Attorney, Shani Jenkins (559) 733-6411