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Eastern District of Texas
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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | CONTACT: DAVILYN WALSTON | |
| WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2010 | PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER | |
| http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txe | CELL: (409) 553-9881 DIRECT: (409) 981-7902 |
TYLER MAN SENTENCED FOR IMPORTING COCAINE INTO U.S.
TYLER, Texas – U.S. Attorney John M. Bales announced today that a 44-year-old Tyler man has been sentenced to federal prison for federal drug violations in the Eastern District of Texas.
MARIO PASSOW-DUBAN pleaded guilty on Oct. 5, 2009, to conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States and was sentenced to 71 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Schneider.
According to information presented in court, on Apr. 20, 2009, Passow-Duban was arrested at his Tyler residence after a controlled delivery of a package addressed to his residence. The package, which originated from Guatemala, contained approximately 2 pounds of cocaine.
Passow-Duban’s sister, Marina Passow-Duban, was also arrested at the residence. She pleaded guilty on Sep. 25, 2009, to possessing and using a false or counterfeit alien registration card and was sentenced to 6 months in federal prison on Nov. 3, 2009.
This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security – Immigration and Customs Enforcement and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Baldwin.
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