HILO — Roberto Pena Villanueva, a 39-year-old Mexican national, was sentenced yesterday to 10 years in prison on drug charges, Big Island Prosecuting Attorney Jay T. Kimura announced today.

On February 6, 2008, Hawaii County Police vice officers arrested Villanueva at the Texaco gas station off Route 19 in Honokaa.

In Villanueva's pocket, police found 0.35 grams of methamphetamine, 0.05 grams of cocaine and $4061 in US currency. In the vehicle he was operating, police located 122.23 grams of methamphetamine and $4000.

Villanueva was sentenced yesterday by Judge Glenn S. Hara to an indeterminate 10-year term of imprisonment.

Villanueva argued for a sentence of probation based upon his limited criminal history in Hawaii and the fact that he was subject to deportation to Mexico. The state argued that imprisonment was necessary given the large amount of contraband and also to send a message to deter others from committing similar crimes.