United States Drug Enforcement Administration

MCALLEN, Texas - A Rio Grande City man is now serving a significant sentence for possessing with the intent to distribute marijuana, announced Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Joseph M. Arabit, Houston Division and U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson today.  Issac Medina, 29, of Rio Grande City, pleaded guilty June 26, 2014.

Today, U.S. District Judge Randy Cane sentenced Medina to 135 months of federal imprisonment to be immediately followed by a four-year-term of supervised release.

On March 14, 2014, Border (BP) agents observed Medina drive his vehicle down to the Rio Grande River where it was loaded with 34 large bundles that later tested positive for marijuana. Medina then headed north at a high rate of speed. A BP agent attempted to intercept the defendant and pulled onto a road where the agent observed Medina’s vehicle come to rest. Medina began to exit but then accelerated his vehicle forward striking the agent’s vehicle head-on. 

The agent, hearing Medina accelerating his engine, feared being pushed into the roadway and discharged his service weapon. At that time, Medina surrendered and was taken into custody.

Judge Crane enhanced Medina’s sentence for use of a deadly (the motor vehicle), use of violence against the agent and acting in a manner creating substantial risk of serious bodily injury.

Medina has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, Border Patrol and the Pharr Police Department. 

Assistant U.S. (AUSA) Steven Schammel and former AUSA Juan Villescas prosecuted the case.