Laredoan Convicted In Meth And Marijuana Conspiracy
LAREDO, Texas - -- Santos Eliseo Carpio Jr., 33, of Laredo, has entered a plea of guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and marijuana, Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Javier Peña and United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced today.
In April 2012, Carpio arranged for truck drivers to transport methamphetamine and marijuana to Dallas and Chicago. Carpio first notified the drivers that he was “wrapping” the drugs, then drove to a local Laredo restaurant with another individual. There, he exited the car with a duffel bag and gave it to the drivers. Inside were two Ziploc bags with 1.824 kilograms of methamphetamine.
In May and June 2012, Carpio met with a pilot and attempted to arrange for 1200 to 1500 kilograms of marijuana to be flown from Mexico to the United States. On separate occasions, he requested wrapping material for marijuana which was provided to a co-conspirator at a gas station in Laredo.
Carpio will remain in custody pending his sentencing hearing to be set in the near future. At that time, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison and a possible $10 million fine.
The investigation leading to the charges was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth Rabe is prosecuting the case.
