
A former Reston resident was sentenced yesterday (Wednesday) to 20 years years in prison for his role in a drug-related murder that happened in Reston in 2011.
Saul Pacheco Mejia, 55, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the use of a firearm in a drug trafficking conspiracy, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Originally from Honduras, Mejia was with two associates when they chased, shot, and killed a man who attempted to steal cocaine from the trio during a drug deal on Dec. 12, 2011, the U.S. Attorney’s Office says. The incident happened at a Reston apartment, court documents show.
Although Mejia did not have a firearm, court documents say he knew that his associates had firearms. Shortly after the murder, Mejia and his associates fled to Honduras.
He was arrested in Texas in 2019.
He pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the use of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking conspiracy, causing death, and abetting the use of a firearm in connection with a drug conspiracy resulting in death.
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