SALISBURY — Salvador Valadez Jr., 37, of Salisbury, was sentenced to 16 years in prison on June 25 for distributing methamphetamine, conspiracy, and money laundering in Rowan County, according to U.S. Attorney Matthew G.T. Martin of the Middle District of North Carolina.

Valadez was sentenced to 192 months in prison by Judge Thomas D. Schroeder in federal court in Winston-Salem. Valadez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to launder money.

In addition to the prison term, he was ordered to serve a five-year term of supervised release after completing his sentence.

According to documents filed in court, a multiagency, multistate investigation identified Valadez as a large-scale supplier of meth in Salisbury. Using a cooperating witness, agents recorded a sale of about 4 ounces of methamphetamine by Valadez on Oct. 10, 2017, in Salisbury.

Other people engaged in drug trafficking who were identified in the investigation indicated that Valadez was a drug distributor, selling quantities ranging from 4 ounces to one-half kilogram of meth. Valadez told others that he received his supply of methamphetamine by air smuggling and by mail, and that he transferred money to his suppliers through wire services.

The case was investigated by the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office, Salisbury Police Department, State Bureau of Investigation, Mocksville Police Department and Yadkinville Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Terry M. Meinecke.