Two Sentenced For Conspiring To Transport Marijuana
LAREDO, Texas - Javier F. Peña, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Drug Enforcement (DEA), Houston Division and Kenneth Magidson, United States Attorney, Southern District of Texas announced today Roberto Garcia, 29, and Juan Javier Reyna, 33, both of Houston, have been sentenced to federal prison for conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute in excess of 100 kilograms of marijuana.
Today, U.S. District Judge George P. Kazen handed Garcia a sentence of 100 months, while Reyna received 72 months.
Between September and November 2011, Reyna worked with other co-conspirators including Garcia to transport 100-200 pounds of marijuana from Roma to Houston on at least two occasions.
On Oct. 19, 2011, Reyna was driving in tandem with a vehicle driven by Garcia. His role on that day was to provide an escort vehicle for the load of marijuana. A Department of Public (DPS) trooper attempted to pull Garcia over for traffic violations. However, when the DPS trooper walked up to the vehicle, Garcia sped off and caused a three-car crash on Highway 83 at Pita Magana Road. Garcia abandoned the vehicle, which contained 14 bundles of marijuana, weighing 55.45 kilograms. Garcia then ran through a gas station and was picked up by Reyna. A high-speed chase ensued, during which Garcia opened the passenger door and fled. Reyna bailed out of the vehicle a short time later and was apprehended hiding in the brush nearby.
This case is the result of a two-year investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth Rabe and James Hepburn are prosecuting the case.
