Lakewood man sentenced for helping Mexican cartel traffic meth

SEATTLE — Federal prosecutors say a Lakewood man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for his leadership role in a Mexico-based drug trafficking organization.

A federal judge in Seattle sentenced James E. Roberts on Friday. The judge added five years of supervised release after Roberts serves his sentence.

Roberts was the owner of the Restore and More body shop. Prosecutors say he distributed methamphetamine for a trafficking organization operated by Enrique Palomera - an extremely dangerous Mexico-based drug dealer.

Palomera remains in Mexico awaiting extradition.

Court records say Roberts not only sold meth for the group, he supervised some of his employees who also sold the drug.

Prosecutors say one of the co-conspirators in the case is missing and presumed dead.