A federal grand jury has indicted two men in a 16-count charge alleging conspiracy and sale of heroin and methamphetamine, mainly in Snohomish County, a prosecutor said Thursday.
Juan Valencia-Lopez, 22, of Lake Forest Park and Jose Ruiz-Velasquez, 22, of Tacoma also face forfeiture of property under federal law, said Adam Cornell, a Snohomish County deputy prosecutor and special assistant U.S. attorney.
The indictment was handed down Wednesday and made public Thursday.
Cornell, who prosecutes cases developed by the Snohomish Regional Drug Task Force, said Valencia-Lopez is charged with 10 counts of drug sales and Ruiz-Velasquez with five. Both are charged with one count of conspiracy, Cornell said.
The case was developed during a joint investigation by the task force and the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, Cornell said.
If convicted, Valencia Lopez could face a 20-year minimum prison sentence. He has a prior drug conviction, Cornell said. Ruiz-Velasquez could face a 10-year minimum prison term.
Eleven of the alleged drug sales happened in Everett, and three in Marysville. There also was one in Spanaway in Pierce County.
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