Mauro Esparza-Gutierrez, a 39-year-old Mexican citizen, has pled guilty to charges related to methamphetamine distribution in Saratoga Springs. The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Daniel Hanlon and Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), New York Division.
Esparza-Gutierrez, who was employed at the Saratoga Race Course, admitted his involvement with a co-conspirator in distributing methamphetamine during the summer of 2024. He confessed that methamphetamine shipments were sent to him in horse trailers by his co-conspirator, which he then sold. He acknowledged distributing approximately 100 grams of methamphetamine throughout the conspiracy.
The sentencing for Esparza-Gutierrez is scheduled for July 1, 2025. He faces a potential maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment, a fine up to $1 million, and supervised release ranging from three years to life. Sentencing will be determined by a judge based on the specific statute violated, U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
This case marks Esparza-Gutierrez as the second individual to plead guilty for methamphetamine distribution in Saratoga Springs during the 2024 track season. Nelson Moran from Guatemala also pled guilty on October 9, 2024, and is awaiting sentencing.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA and Saratoga Springs Police Department with Assistant U.S. Attorney Mikayla Espinosa handling prosecution.