MINNEAPOLIS — An Austin man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for his role in the distribution of methamphetamine.
Jason Lee Reinartz, 36, was indicted by a federal grand jury with his girlfriend in December 2008, accused of conspiring to distribute and possess more than 500 grams of methamphetamine. He pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge and returned to court Thursday for sentencing.
U.S. District Judge John R. Tunheim imposed the mandatory minimum of 20 years. Steven Schleicher, assistant U.S. attorney, had asked for a sentence of 262 months, saying such a sentence is reasonable given Reinartz's "extensive criminal record and offense conduct."
Schleicher said in a sentencing memorandum that Reinartz's continued criminal activity, after extensive law enforcement intervention on many occasions, "demonstrates that prolonged incarceration is necessary to deter the defendant from additional criminal conduct."
Authorities said Reinartz was responsible for the distribution of large quantities of methamphetamine in the Austin area.
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In his plea agreement, Reinartz admitted to obtaining two pounds of the drug from one source in a five-month period in 2008 and distributing it.
His girlfriend, Emily Elaine Young, 23, pleaded guilty previously and was sentenced in June, 2009, to 15 months prison. She admitted collecting money for the drug and allowing the drugs to be stored at her mother's residence.
