Mexican Man Indicted for Smuggling 163 Pounds of Methamphetamine Across the US-Mexico Border

PHOENIX, Ariz. –Last week, a federal grand jury in Phoenix, Arizona, returned a two-count indictment against Jose Luis Vazquez-Gonzalez, 39, of Mexico, for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Importation of Methamphetamine into the United States from Mexico.

The indictment alleges that on June 18, 2022, Vazquez-Gonzalez entered the United States through San Luis, Arizona. At the Port of Entry, Customs and Border Protection officers discovered 155 packages hidden in Vazquez-Gonzalez’s car. The packages contained a white crystal-like substance that tested positive for methamphetamine. The combined weight of the packages was over 163 pounds.

A conviction for each of the charged offenses carries a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $10,000,000 fine.

An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Homeland Security Investigations is conducting the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution.

CASE NUMBER:           CR-22-00815-PHX-DJH
RELEASE NUMBER:    2022-120_Vazquez-Gonzalez

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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/

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