Illegal Alien Sentenced For Drug Trafficking In East Texas

TYLER, Texas – A 38-year-old El Salvadorian man illegally living in Tyler, Texas, was sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.

Francisco Antonio Soriano pleaded guilty on Sep. 21, 2012, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Schneider.  Soriano will be deported following the completion of his prison term.

                According to information presented in court, beginning on Dec. 14, 2011, Soriano conspired with others to acquire and distribute methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas.  Soriano admitted he was responsible for the distribution of more than 500 grams of pure methamphetamine. 

                Soriano, Jose Lopez, and Jorge Perez Sanchez were indicted by a federal grand jury on Jan. 11, 2012 and charged with drug trafficking violations.  Lopez was sentenced to 168 months in federal prison on Oct. 1, 2012.  Sanchez was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison on Oct. 1, 2012.

                This case is the result of an ongoing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) joint investigation.  The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply. 

                This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Tyler Police Department, and the Smith County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Baldwin. ####