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Press Release

Mexican Nationals Sentenced For Drug Trafficking Violations In Smith County, Texas

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Texas

Department of Justice
Office of Public Affairs

TYLER, Texas – Two Mexican nationals living in Tyler, Texas, have been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today. 

                Jose Ruben Vaca-Saucedo, 26, pleaded guilty on Mar. 4, 2013, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 80 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Leonard E. Davis.  The court also ordered the defendant to submit to forfeiture of $10,000.

Vaca-Saucedo’s brother, Juan Carlos Vaca, 28, pleaded guilty on Mar. 4, 2013, to distribution of methamphetamine and was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison today by Judge Davis.  Vaca was ordered to submit to forfeiture of $2,600.

According to information presented in court, from May 2010 to January 2011, the brothers conspired to possess more than 182 grams of methamphetamine which they intended to deliver to others in the Tyler, Texas area.  A federal grand jury returned an indictment on Feb. 1, 2012, charging the brothers with drug trafficking violations.

                This case is the result of an ongoing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) joint investigation.  The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply. 

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Allen Hurst.


Updated March 12, 2015