Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 8 for a 41-year-old convicted felon who pleaded guilty to firearm and drug-related charges after being arrested in Newport Beach with several drugs and a ghost gun in his possession.
Joseph Daniel Miller pleaded guilty this week in a Santa Ana federal courtroom to possession with intent to distribute at least 50 grams of methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of ammunition, according to Ginger Colbrun, a public information officer with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Miller was arrested on Jan. 5, 2021, in the parking lot of a Del Taco in Newport Beach.
“According to his plea agreement, Miller’s cellphone contained multiple, separate chains of text messages in which he was taking orders for drug sales and making arrangements to meet customers for the purpose of delivering drugs to them,” Colbrun said.
Arresting officers found 127 grams of methamphetamine and small amounts of other controlled substances, including heroin and cocaine in his possession. Police also found “a privately made Polymer80, 9 mm semi-automatic pistol, bearing no serial number” tucked into Miller’s waistband, according to Colbrun.
Miller was on probation at the time of his arrest, and he has felony convictions dating back to 2011 including for receiving stolen property, conspiracy to commit a crime, sale or transportation of controlled substance, and domestic battery with corporal injury, Colbrun said.