4 Meth Gang Members Who Operated Out Of Plymouth Twp. Sentenced To Prison

PLYMOUTH TOWNSHIP, PA — A large methamphetamine distribution ring that operated in part of out of Montgomery County has been dismantled and four members sentenced to prison, federal authorities announced this week.

The ring mailed meth and cocaine from California to a base of operations in Plymouth Township and used it to distribute it throughout the Philadelphia area, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Similar hubs were located in Reading, Quakertown, Bensalem, and Coopersburg.

The group's leader, Michael Sanchez, known as “West Coast,” 33, of Los Angeles, California, organized and managed the shipments, authorities said. He frequently traveled from California to the Philly area to pick up packages, collect money from dealers, deposit it in. bank accounts, and distribute more drugs, according to investigators.

The four suspects were charged in Jan. 24 with various drug trafficking offenses, and pleaded guilty last year before being sentenced in February.

In January, U.S. District Court Judge Joshua D. Wolson sentenced Sanchez to 14.5 years in prison and five years probation.

In addition, Aived Abel Garcia, known as “Nephew,” 26, of Chula Vista, California, was sentenced to 70 months behind bars and five years probation. Miguel Aliaga, known as “Migz,” 37, of Whitehall, Pennsylvania, and Avrian Haywood Mack, alias “The Kid,” 22, of Reading, Pennsylvania, were both sentenced to 60 months in prison and five years probation.

Homeland Security, Pennsylvania State Police, the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office, the Orange County Probation Office in California, and Montgomery County detectives worked with various other state and local agencies on the cross-country investigation.