Valley Center

Three members of the Donald Mason drug ring in North County received sentences Monday ranging from 179 days to 7 1/2 years in prison.

The stiffest sentence of 7 1/2 years went to Donald Mason’s son, Richard Wayne Mason, 24, of Valley Center, who was described by Assistant U.S. Atty. Paul DiPaolo as the “No. 1” defendant in terms of culpability.

Mason was also fined $15,000 by U.S. District Judge Gordon Thompson.

Salvador Vera, 32, of Valley Center, the manager of one of Donald Mason’s businesses, received a 1-year, 1-day sentence.

Donald Mason’s stepson, Benjamin Perez, 26, of San Marcos, received 179 days in jail after Thompson suspended most of a 5-year federal prison term.

The gang’s undoing began April 23, 1987, when two members were arrested by sheriff’s deputies in Valley Center after the deputies found 100 pounds of methamphetamine in their truck. That incident led to the eventual arrest and indictment of 13 people.

Several members of the audience wept during Richard Mason’s sentencing, including his wife, Cynthia, who called out “I love you” as he was led away into custody.

“Your honor, I want to say I’m sorry,” Richard Mason said. “I know what I did was wrong. It was a stupid thing to do. . . . I promise I’ll never do this again.”

Thompson refused a request from all defendants’ lawyers that they surrender at a later date and remanded all into custody.

Richard Mason pleaded guilty Feb. 26 to being an accessory after the fact to a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and not reporting income on his 1985 tax return.

Vera pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.

Perez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess marijuana with intent to distribute, which could have netted him a 5-year sentence and a $250,000 fine.

In suspending the 5-year term except for 179 days, the judge told Perez: “You won’t get off next time.”