Mexican National Sentenced for Federal Immigration and Controlled Substances Violations

NEW ORLEANS, LA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that FERMIN DANIEL PUENTE-MONTOYA, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced on January 9, 2024 by U.S. District Judge Wendy B Vitter to 57 months incarceration, after previously pleading guilty to violating the Federal Controlled Substances Act and illegal reentry of a removed alien. Judge Vitter also ordered deportation for PUENTE-MONTOYA following imprisonment, and a 1-year term of supervised probation should he ever illegally reenter the country.

According to the indictment, in March of 2023, PUENTE-MONTOYA conspired with others to pick up and transport a bag he knew contained over 9 kilograms of pure methamphetamine from Dallas, Texas to Kenner, Louisiana. PUENTE-MONTOYA participated in this narcotics conspiracy after previously being deported from the United States.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at http://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

United States Attorney Evans praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Kenner Police Department. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Stuart Theriot of the Narcotics Unit.