Weslaco Man Handed 262-Month Prison Term for Narcotics Smuggling

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Miguel Angel Mora-Gonzalez, 22, has been sentenced to more than 21 years in federal prison for his participation in an organization smuggling marijuana into the U.S. from Mexico, United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced today. Mora-Gonzalez was convicted in February 2011 following his guilty plea to possession with intent to distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana.

At the sentencing hearing today, evidence was presented proving that on Nov. 21, 2010, Mora-Gonzalez was the leader of the conspiracy in which he and four others were arrested in possession of 694 kilograms of marijuana north of beach access number #6 on South Padre Island.

The sentence imposed today includes upward adjustments or increases in his calculated sentencing guideline range because he attempted to obstruct justice while incarcerated. Evidence indicated he planned to lie to agents and sent messages to potential witnesses instructing them not to implicate him as the leader. Mora-Gonzalez also received an increase in his sentence because the evidence at sentencing indicated he had been smuggling narcotics into the United States for more than two years. As a consequence, the court found he was responsible for smuggling in excess of 3000 kilograms of marijuana.

This case was investigated by agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations, Customs and Border Protection, Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Cameron County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Angel Castro.