South Texas man guilty of smuggling more than 50 pounds of meth
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 35-year-old Edinburg man has pleaded guilty to possessing with the intent to distribute more than 25 kilograms of methamphetamine, announced United States Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Will R. Glaspy, Houston Division, and U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
On July 7, 2019, Sarafin Rodriguez Pena drove a white Ford Focus into the primary inspection area of the U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint near Falfurrias. A careful search of the vehicle revealed bundles of methamphetamine concealed within after-market speakers mounted in the car.
Laboratory analysis later confirmed the substance in the bundles was methamphetamine.
The methamphetamine had a total weight of 25.5 kilograms with a value of more than $1.7 million.
At a hearing today before U.S. Magistrate Judge B. Janice Ellington, Pena admitted he had knowingly attempted to smuggle the narcotics past the checkpoint.
U.S. District Judge David S. Morales will impose sentence Nov. 26, 2019. At that time, Pena faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison as well as a possible $10 million maximum fine.
He has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.
The DEA conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert D. Thorpe Jr. is prosecuting the case.
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