Countywide

A Spring Valley man who ran a huge marijuana smuggling operation and who later cooperated with the government was sentenced Tuesday to a suspended 10-year federal prison term. Alberto Scolari, 47, was placed on five years’ probation by U.S. District Judge J. Lawrence Irving after Assistant U.S. Atty. Warren Reese recommended such a sentence. No additional fine or jail time was imposed.

Scolari pleaded guilty Aug. 23, 1983, to conspiracy to distribute 25 tons of marijuana in secret compartments of vans, trailers, and trucks coming from Mexico in 1982. His two sons, Miguel, 30, and Eduardo, 21, both of San Diego, also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import marijuana. Their sentencing is set for next Tuesday.

Alberto Scolari was the star witness in October in the trial of Border Inspector Robert Ramos, who was charged with accepting more than $200,000 to allow marijuana across the border. The jury acquitted Ramos.