A Richmond man police say they’ve been investigating for drug sales since 2007 has been sentenced to 30 years in prison.
John Arthur Jimenez, 30, pleaded guilty to several drug-related charges. A Richmond Police Department spokesman said that in addition to receiving a 30-year sentence, as part of a plea agreement, Jimenez’s car was awarded to the department.
Jimenez was under investigation by Richmond Police detectives for months, beginning in 2007. According to a statement issued by the department on Thursday, “crack cocaine was purchased from Jimenez on several occasions during these investigations.”
In February 2008, police obtained a warrant for Jimenez’ arrest went to his Richmond home in an attempt to serve it and found him in his car outside the house.
Jimenez got out and was promptly arrested without incident. “During the arrest, officers noticed a strong odor of marijuana in the area,” a police report of the incident said. “While searching the area for the source of the burning marijuana, officers discovered narcotics in Jimenez’s vehicle.”
Police said they found 38 pieces of crack cocaine, 62 small plastic bags of powder cocaine and several plastic bags containing marijuana. “Jimenez also had a large amount of cash in small bills on his person,” the police report said.
The car and cash were confiscated the day of the arrest.
Cold busted.