Las Vegas Man Sentenced To 16 Years In Prison For Selling Methamphetamine

LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas resident who has prior felony convictions was sentenced Tuesday to 16 years in prison for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine.

According to court documents, between October 26, 2021 and December 30, 2021, Dean Romero (55) conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine. On October 26, 2021, Romero sold 143.5 grams of methamphetamine,7.9 grams of liquid fentanyl, and a .22 caliber handgun in a store parking lot. On December 1, 2021, in the same parking lot, he sold 357 grams of methamphetamine and a 9mm pistol with no serial number. On December 30, 2021, he sold 470.7 grams of methamphetamine and a privately made AR-15-style firearm equipped with an extended magazine and a silencer in a hotel casino parking lot.

Romero has been previously convicted of burglary, forgery, perjury, identity theft, possession or distribution of controlled substances, and firearms offenses. He pleaded guilty on July 6, 2023, to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. In addition to the term of imprisonment, United States District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey sentenced Romero to five years of supervised release.

“This prosecution exemplifies our outstanding partnership with the FBI in removing dangerous individuals who sell drugs and firearms from our communities,” said United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada. “Fentanyl and methamphetamine are deadly drugs that have taken too many lives. The two firearms sold did not have serial number markings which made them untraceable and even more dangerous for law enforcement.”

“Our community is safer today,” said Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI. “There is no doubt lives across our state were saved from the devastating impact of these dangerous drugs and firearms crimes. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate, disrupt, and hold accountable those who insist on sowing destruction in our neighborhoods.”

The case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant United States Attorneys Joshua Brister and Kimberly Sokolich prosecuted the case.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles criminal organizations using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

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