Illegal Immigrant from Mexico Sentenced to Over 11 Years in Federal Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Meth
Defendant was on supervised release from a previous federal conviction for conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver methamphetamine when he was arrested on this current charge.
LITTLE ROCK—Bertoldo Alcaraz-Ortuno, who was previously convicted for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, will spend the next 136 months in federal prison after being convicted of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down today by United States District Judge James M. Moody, Jr.
On December 3, 2024, Alcaraz-Ortuno, 37, of Guerrero, Mexico, was indicted by a federal grand jury in a four-count Indictment for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, felon in possession of a firearm, and illegal reentry of a previously deported alien. On August 7, 2025, Alcaraz-Ortuno pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Judge Moody also sentenced Alcaraz-Ortuno to five years’ supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
An investigation revealed that after receiving a tip that Alcaraz-Ortuno was a source of supply, law enforcement officers went to his known residence and spoke with Alcaraz-Ortuno. He stated that he had a kilogram of methamphetamine in the shed. Officers obtained a search warrant for the property and located 1,726 grams of methamphetamine, a .40 caliber firearm in the shed, a 9mm firearm, and $10,445 in Alcaraz-Ortuno’s wallet. Immigration officials confirmed that Alcaraz-Ortuno was not in the United States legally and had been previously deported on May 18 & 27, 2015; June 18, 2015; and July 31, 2020.
Alcaraz-Ortuno’s criminal history includes the October 3, 2019, federal drug conviction where he received a sentence of 48 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release. At the time of his arrest in this case, Alcaraz-Ortuno was on supervised release for the 2019 federal conviction.
The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Little Rock Police Department with assistance from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stacy Williams.
