Guerino Cristalo, 71, arrested in March last year for high-level drug trafficking, has signed a plea agreement with the state in which he agrees to plead guilty to two felony counts of drug trafficking and pay $500,000 in fines and turn over hundredes of thousands of dollars worth of assets.

Although the plea agreement is signed, Cristalo is not scheduled for his arraignment until July 2.

Guerino was arrested twice in March following a joint investigation by the Nye County Sheriff's Office Scorpion Task Force and the Nevada Narcotics Task Force.

When the Nye County SWAT team served Cristalo a search warrant, the sheriff's office reported Cristalo as having over $12,000 in cash and 50 pre-measured bindles of methamphetamine on him.

A search of his residence on West Windsong Lane yielded 2,500 tablets of prescription drugs including oxycodone, hydrocodone, and methadone with an estimated value of $70,000.

Cristalo was subsequently arrested but released after posting $55,000 bail.

Shortly after his initial arrest, Cristalo was arrested again while sheriff's office deputies executed a search warrant on his local bank accounts.

Cristalo and his son, Anthony, were arrested while allegedly attempting to empty the accounts (containing more than $100,000, according to the sheriff's office) before the seizure was complete.

Once again, a bail of $13,132 was posted shortly after the arrest.

Under the plea agreement, Cristalo agrees to plead guilty to a count of high-level trafficking in a schedule I controlled substance, a category A felony, and to a category C felony of low-level trafficking in a controlled substance.

The first charge carries a maximum sentence of life in a state prison with parole possible after a minimum of 10 years has been served and a fine of up to $500,000.

The second charge carries a minimum sentence of one year and a maximum sentence of five years in a state prison, in addition to a maximum fine of $10,000 that can be imposed by the court.

Cristalo, reportedly in very ill health and already in his twilight years at 71, may receive a five-year parole under the plea agreement provided he meets stringent requirements set by the state.

Cristalo will only receive probation, however, if he renders "substantial assistance" to any law enforcement agency from any law enforcement agency in the country.

Cristalo will also pay the $500,000 fine the first charge carries in the time between his arraignment and his sentencing; $115,501.12 from bank accounts which have already been seized will be credited to that amount.

In addition, Cristalo is expected turn over a slew of assets to the county which include bank accounts, properties, numerous firearms, 12 vehicles, mobile homes, and an ATV within the same time frame.

He may also be required to serve a month in the Nye County Detention Center, provided a doctor chosen by the District Attorney's office decides he's well enough to do so.

The aging criminal's health was a serious consideration for the state in proffering the plea agreement, Nye County District Attorney Bob Beckett said.

"I don't think he would have lived to see a set trial date," Beckett explained. "I think it was a very practical solution for the case given his health."

The district attorney pointed out it would take at least a year for the state to be ready to go to trial.

Furthermore, Beckett stressed that given Cristalo's health and current location in Massachusetts where he is being treated for his numerous health conditions, Cristalo would not be committing any more crimes any time soon.

The district attorney added the money turned over by Cristalo could be used to fund programs to help victims of crime.