HARRISONBURG, Va. – An illegal alien from Mexico, who had been removed from the United States on at least two previous occasions before illegally reentering the country, pled guilty recently to distributing thousands of grams of methamphetamine and violating the immigration laws of the United States. Miguel Alberto Sandoval Arellano, 41, a citizen of Mexico living illegally in Marshall, Virginia, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, one count of possessing with the intent to distribute and distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and one count of reentering the United States after having previously been removed, with an aggravated felony conviction before removal. According to court documents, Arellano conspired with others to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine in and around Clarke County from approximately 2024 and 2025. Specifically, Arellano made drug sales to confidential sources working with the Northwest Virginia Regional Drug and Gang Task Force. During multiple transactions, Arellano provided the confidential source with methamphetamine ranging in weight between 725 grams and 1,485 grams. In all, Arellano made at least five sales to the confidential source. As a result of these transactions, task force members obtained a search warrant for a farm property in Clarke County operated by Arellano. In a barn on the property, investigators located 4,631 grams of pure methamphetamine. A second search warrant was executed at Arellano’s home in Marshall, Virginia. Investigators recovered $15,495 in cash. Some of that cash was identified as being the same money given to the confidential source to be used to purchase drugs from Arellano. In addition, Arellano admitted he worked for an individual in Mexico who sent him methamphetamine to distribute. Arellano would then wire the proceeds back to Mexico at the individual’s direction. Further investigation revealed that in 2012, Arellano was federally convicted in the District of New Jersey for possessing with the intent to distribute cocaine. He ultimately served 37 months in federal prison. Following that sentence, and on at least two other occasions, Arellano was removed from the United States – once in 2013 and again in 2015. Following both removals, he unlawfully returned to the United States. First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci made the announcement. The case is being investigated by the Northwest Virginia Regional Drug and Gang Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration Winchester Resident Office.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Endres is prosecuting the case for the United States.