Feds seek man who skipped sentencing

By Louie Gilot / El Paso Times
Article Launched:12/21/2006 12:00:00 AM MST

A Mexican man arrested last year during a raid on a Socorro stash house and later convicted on drug charges failed to appear at his sentencing this month and is considered a fugitive, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said.

The U.S. Marshals Service is looking for Roberto Portillo Alvidrez, 47, who was found guilty in September by a federal jury in El Paso of conspiracy and possessing with the intent to distribute 491 pounds of marijuana. He was to be sentenced earlier this month. He faces up to 10 years in prison. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.

Portillo and four associates -- Rafael Manzo Avalos, 58, Sergio Lopez Contreras, 33, and Andres Alarcon Castañeda, 30, ( all Mexican nationals) and Lorenzo Villa, 42, a U.S. citizen -- were arrested last December at a house on the 9900 block of Flaca Street in Socorro. In the operation, ICE agents and sheriff's deputies seized more than 491 pounds of marijuana, more than 2 pounds of cocaine, $42,647 in U.S. currency, and three vehicles, ICE officials said.