Mexican Citizen Convicted In Del Rio For Importing Cocaine And Heroin
DEL RIO, Texas - Guillermo Rodriguez-Sanchez, a 42-year-old resident of Mexico City, faces a mandatory minimum sentence of at least ten years and up to life in federal prison after a jury convicted him late Thursday afternoon of importing cocaine and heroin. The conviction was announced by Drug Enforcement (DEA) Special Agent in Charge for the Houston Division, Joseph M. Arabit; United States Attorney Richard L. Durbin, Jr.; Homeland Security (HSI) Special Agent in Charge for the San Antonio Division, Shane Folden.
Jurors convicted Rodriguez-Sanchez of one count of importation of cocaine and one count of importation of heroin. According to evidence presented during trial, on March 16, 2016, Rodriguez-Sanchez attempted to enter the United States through the Eagle Pass, Texas Port of Entry, located about 55 miles southeast of Del Rio.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers discovered four bricks of cocaine and one brick of heroin hidden inside of a secret compartment built into the air intake manifold of the 2007 Toyota Tundra the defendant was driving. The cocaine weighed approximately four kilograms; the heroin weighed approximately 1.4 kilograms. The value of the narcotics was approximately $200,000 according to testimony during his trial. At the time of his arrest, Rodriguez-Sanchez denied knowledge of the drugs.
Rodriguez-Sanchez remains in federal custody pending sentencing scheduled for April 4, 2017 in Del Rio.
The Drug Enforcement (DEA), Homeland Security (HSI), and United States Customs and Border Protection conducted this investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Goran Krnaich and Justin Chung are prosecuting this case on behalf of the Government.
