24 months for ‘dreamer’ arrested seven times for San Francisco drug dealing
A federal judge in San Francisco today decried the “merry-go-round” whereby drug dealers are arrested multiple times in the city but face few consequences, as she imposed a 24-month sentence on a young dealer with an extensive arrest record.
Angel Reyes earlier pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. The 23-year-old Honduran national is a ‘dreamer” benefitting from the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program since coming to the U.S. in 2015.
Court records show that Reyes has been arrested “at least seven times” in San Francisco: in 2020, twice in 2021, twice in 2022, and twice in 2023.
He was on bail on two of his cases when he was arrested on Thanksgiving Day 2023 having been seen by law enforcement selling drugs in the city’s Tenderloin district.
He has been in custody for 16 months.
Today in courtroom eight of San Francisco federal courthouse, U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley said that the failure of local authorities to ensure dealers such as Reyes received consequences likely contributed to the offending continuing.
“While he was arrested a lot by San Francisco police department,” she observed, “he never got any significant jail time which, I think, is contributing to what we see – but hopefully that will change somewhat.”
“It’s just amazing when you see the merry-go-round that’s occurring,” said added.
“There is a very good chance that the drug you sold killed somebody.”
U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley
“I do want to again remind you of the harm that your conduct caused,” she told the defendant. “There’s a very good chance that the drug you sold killed somebody.”
“Sometimes we talk about drug dealing as a ‘victimless crime’…but it is not a victimless crime,” she continued.
“It’s like shooting a gun into a crowd.”
Judge Corley agreed with a joint sentencing recommendation by prosecution and defense attorneys and imposed a 24-month term of imprisonment.
The defendant has originally been offered a ‘fast track’ deal by federal prosecutors, which would have seen his near-immediate deportation. He rejected it, according to his attorney, in an effort to “buy time” and consider his options.
He will serve approximately eight more months in custody before being handed to immigration authorities for removal.
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