Defendant Sentenced To 10 Years In Federal Prison On Methamphetamine Distribution Conviction

AMARILLO, Texas — Hugo Gomez-Barrientos, most recently of Hereford, Texas, was sentenced this week by U.S. District Judge Mary Lou Robinson to 120 months in federal prison on a methamphetamine distribution conviction, announced John Parker, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas.

Gomez-Barrientos, 46, pleaded guilty in November 2014 to an indictment charging one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. He has been in custody since his arrest at his residence on September 25, 2014, after the return of that indictment.

According to documents filed in the case, on May 7, 2013, Gomez-Barrientos agreed to meet with an undercover Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force Officer (TFO), at a convenience store in Hereford, and sell him a quarter pound of methamphetamine for $3,750 and front him an additional quarter pound to be paid for later. Gomez-Barrientos changed the meeting place from the convenience store to a cattle truck wash.

After the undercover TFO arrived at the cattle truck wash, Gomez-Barrientos walked up to his vehicle and the sale took place. The undercover TFO advised he would pay him the balance owed for the additional quarter pound of methamphetamine on the next buy.

Approximately one month later, on June 5, 2013, the undercover TFO called Gomez-Barrientos to discuss the remaining balance he owned. They agreed to meet at Gomez-Barrientos’s ranch. The undercover TFO advised that the prior amount of methamphetamine was short of the quarter pound and the undercover TFO and Gomez-Barrientos agreed that the undercover TFO would pay $3,000 for it.

The DEA, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Frausto prosecuted.