Dallas Man Sentenced to 54 Years in Federal Prison For His Role in Methamphetamine Distribution Conspiracy

DALLAS — Gilberto Gomez, 37, of Dallas, Texas, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge David C. Godbey to 652 months in federal prison for his role in a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.

Gomez was convicted in March 2017, following a four-day jury trial before U.S. District Judge David C. Godbey, on one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Gomez has been in custody since his arrest in March 2016.

Co-conspirator Felix Cantu, 30, pled guilty in March 2017 to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Sentencing is set for July 24, 2017.

“Prosecuting armed drug traffickers, like Gilberto Gomez, will continue to be a top priority of our office,” said U.S. Attorney Parker.

The government presented evidence at trial that beginning in November 17, 2015 until March 1, 2016 Gomez and Cantu operated a drug distribution enterprise from Gomez’s residence on Palacios Avenue in West Dallas. After a four-month long investigation, DEA and the Dallas Police Department executed a search warrant on the residence and recovered more than $37,000 in cash and over $40,000 worth of narcotics. To protect his drugs, Gomez installed three-inch steel coverings for the windows and a coded-entry metal gate in the hallway leading to the master bedroom. Gomez travelled to California every two weeks to purchase marijuana. He concealed the newly purchased marijuana in hidden compartments of vehicles and shipped them back to Texas on open-air tractor-trailers. In an effort to keep drugs off the streets in that neighborhood, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is seeking an order to forfeit the house since it was used for the criminal activity.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Dallas Police Department investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rachael Jones and P.J. Meitl prosecuted.

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