Published: October 28, 2009 07:23 pm      

Illegal alien pleads in drug ring

Ashland — An illegal alien accused by federal authorities of conspiring with two others to illegally distribute prescription drugs in Carter County has been sentenced to five years in prison.

Isidro Bringas-Vasquez pleaded guilty earlier this month to a charge of possessing a firearm in furtherance of the crime of drug trafficking.

Under the terms of his plea agreement, charges of conspiracy, possession of oxycodone with intent to distribute, being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm and possession of a fake Social Security card were dismissed.

Bringas-Vasquez’s co-defendant, Stephen K. Brock, pleaded guilty in August to conspiracy to possess oxycodone with intent to distribute. He is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 16 by U.S. District Judge David L. Bunning.

A third defendant, Brock’s girlfriend, Margaret D. Phillips, was found not guilty by a jury of conspiracy to distribute oxycodone and possession with intent to distribute.

All three defendants were indicted in March. According to court records, between March and December of last year, Brock and Bringas-Vasquez, also known as “Mexican Dave,” would travel to Florida to obtain pills for distribution. The pills were sold primarily from Brock’s and Phillips’ residence, authorities said.

Brock and Bringas-Vasquez made four trips to Florida and obtained a total of 34,200 pills for resale, according to documents.

On Dec. 18, Brock transferred 3,690 milligrams of oxycodone to Bringas-Vasqez for distribution, Bringas-Vasquez’s plea agreement states. At the time of the transfer, Bringas-Vasquez had a Jennings .22-caliber semi-automatic pistol tucked in the waistband of his pants.

In addition to the five-year prison term, Bunning sentenced Bringas-Vasquez to three years of supervised release. The judge also stipulated that if Bringas-Vasquez is deported following his release from prison, he not re-enter the U.S. without permission from the U.S. Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Bunning also recommended that Bringas-Vasquez serve his prison term at the Federal Correctional Institution at Summit.

KENNETH HART can be reached at khart@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2654.