Arizona man admits meth distribution in Harrison County

GULFPORT -- An Arizona man has admitted he distributed crystal meth in Harrison County over several years.

Xavier Terrazas, 29, pleaded guilty Monday on a charge filed by the U.S. Attorney's Office.

He faces up to 20 years in prison at his May 25 sentencing.

A federal grand jury had charged him with conspiring to distribute crystal meth, or ice -- meth in its purest form -- in Harrison County and elsewhere from at least September 2012 until his July 23, 2013, indictment. The amount of meth was listed as 50 grams or more, which carries a penalty range of 10 years to life in prison.

The government in February charged him in a bill of information that extended the period of meth distribution through Feb. 26 but held him accountable for an amount of meth that carries a lower penalty.

Terrazas was arrested in Arizona in March 2014. A federal judge in Phoenix released him on his own recognizance for court appearances in Gulfport.

Terrazas failed to attend a change-of-plea hearing in December 2014, court papers show. He later asked his charge be resolved in Arizona, but reportedly disappeared. He was arrested on a bench warrant and brought back to Gulfport. His bond was revoked Jan. 13.

Terrazas has pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth.

This story was originally published March 2, 2016 at 5:57 PM with the headline "Arizona man admits meth distribution in Harrison County ."