KINGMAN – One of some two dozen defendants charged in the “Operation King Crimson” Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO) investigation apologized, but also complained of racial discrimination during his Thursday sentencing hearing in Kingman.
“I am very sorry for what I did,” said Edwin Sosa-Castro, 35, his Spanish-spoken words translated to English by a court interpreter. “I’m very sorry to God, my family and the community.”
Sosa-Castro previously pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to transfer or sell dangerous drugs. More than two dozen other drug related charges are dismissed.
The defendant told Mohave County Superior Court Judge Billy Sipe that he has been treated unfairly because of his status as an illegal immigrant.
“I feel like I have been discriminated (sic) during this process, maybe because I am a Hispanic man and not a citizen of this country, and also maybe because of the language barrier,” Sosa-Castro said.
Judge Carlisle said Sosa-Castro’s assertion is diluted by the fact that the state showed equal vigor in its prosecution of the many English speaking, Caucasians snared in the multi-agency investigation of two Kingman-based drug distribution rings.
Carlisle told Sosa-Castro the plea deal provides him relief from “the possible multiple centuries” in prison he might face if convicted of all charges at trial. The Judge also noted multiple pounds of methamphetamine and multiple ounces of heroin involved in the 2019 incidents to which he pleaded guilty.
Carlisle sentenced Sosa-Castro to prison for 18 years.
Dave Hawkins
1 Comment
So who is the judge here ? Carlisle or Sipe ?