Soon after a jury had been seated in their trial, a pair of illegal immigrants pleaded guilty Tuesday to trafficking heroin to Reno High School students.
Bernabi Gutierrez, 30, and Jose Guadalupe Isiordia-Burmudez, 36, both pleaded guilty to selling heroin to Reno High students during their lunch hours and after school. They were arrested in April 2010 by members of the regional Street Enforcement Team after a Secret Witness tipster stated seeing drug activity at or around the school.
One student, a senior who later graduated with honors, purchased heroin from the pair at least 30 times between March and April 2010, court records show.
Deputy District Attorney Kelly Ann Kossow said the defendants’ actions should serve as a wake-up call to the community about the resurgence of heroin useamong young adults and the need to prosecute those who “target our youth.”
During a search at the men’s Reno home in the 6400 block of Mae Anne Avenue, SET detectives found 24 prepackaged balloons filled with a combined total of 96 grams of heroin, Kossow said. Investigators also found drug paraphernalia, packaging materials, scales and sheets that noted who paid money and who owed money.
Both men are facing life terms with parole during a June 7 sentencing. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials have an immigration hold on the men.
According to testimony from a June preliminary hearing, the men met with the students at locations around Reno High School. The students then got inside their car and took a ride while exchanging money for the heroin balloons, which were being sold for $5 a piece.
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