Mexican Man Gets Significant Sentence For Cocaine Conspiracy

HOUSTON – Oscar Nava-Valencia, 42, of Guadalajara, Mexico, has received a 25-year sentence for his role in the smuggling of a 3,100 kilogram load of cocaine from Panama, announced United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson.

Nava-Valencia previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced late yesterday afternoon in federal court in Houston.

U.S. District Judge Ewing Werlein Jr. sentenced Nava-Valencia to a term of 300 months in federal prison and further ordered him to pay a $5,000 fine.

In March 2006, Panamanian authorities seized approximately 2,080 kilograms of cocaine from a warehouse in Panama City, Panama. The seized cocaine was part of a larger load totaling approximately 3,100 kilograms which was to be shipped from Panama to Mexico and eventually destined for the United States. Nava-Valencia, along with other associates, was to take possession of approximately 1,250 kilograms of cocaine once it arrived in Mexico. In January of 2010, Nava-Valencia was apprehended by Mexican authorities and extradited to the United States in January 2011.

He has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The investigation leading to the charges was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorneys James Sturgis prosecuted the case.