SACRAMENTO — An El Sobrante woman faces federal charges for allegedly bringing 16 pounds of methamphetamine to a home in unincorporated Sacramento County, court records show.

Virginia Garcia Lopez was indicted this week on charges of possessing more than 500 grams of methamphetamine for distribution, which carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison or a maximum life term. She was released from federal custody in Sacramento while the charges are pending, on the condition that she not leave the Northern California area, refrain from drug use, not possess guns, and not leave her home for more than 24 hours.

According to the charging documents, Lopez arranged to sell eight pounds of meth to a North Highlands resident who was acting as a government informant. The informant provided Lopez’s phone number to the Drug Enforcement Administration and set the deal up with a special agent’s guidance, authorities said.

The deal was originally supposed to be for 10 pounds, but Lopez allegedly told the informant that he or she had an $1,800 debt, so they settled on eight pounds. Lopez was arrested with 16 pounds of methamphetamine in her car as she pulled up to the informant’s home in a Honda, the complaint alleges.

The arrest occurred on Oct. 15, according to the complaint. Lopez pleaded not guilty Nov. 1 and is set to appear in court next on Dec. 10.

Source: www.mercurynews.com