San Antonio Drug Trafficker Sentenced To 30 Years In Federal Prison

In Del Rio today, 27-year-old Lauro Beltran of San Antonio was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for cocaine trafficking announced U.S. Attorney Robert Pitman and Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Janice Ayala.

In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Alia Moses ordered that Beltran pay a $5,000 fine and be placed under supervised release for a period of five years after completing his prison term.

In July 2013, a federal jury convicted Beltran of one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute over five kilograms of cocaine.  Evidence presented during trial revealed that from March 2011 to May 2013, Beltran was responsible for recruiting individuals to transport cocaine from the interior of Mexico into the United States, where it was distributed to locations including Chicago, IL, and Miami, FL.  In March 2011, state authorities in Missouri arrested Beltran while he was driving a vehicle which contained $578,328.00 in United States Currency.  Authorities seized, and subsequently forfeited, the money believed to be proceeds of drug distribution.   At sentencing, Beltran was held accountable for distributing over 150 kilograms of cocaine during the course of the conspiracy.

This case resulted from an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) together with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Phelps County (MO) Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Lewis Thomas prosecuted this case on behalf of the Government.