Federal Jury Convicts Amarillo Man on Drug Charge

AMARILLO — Following a three-day trial, a federal jury has convicted Jose Santillan, 25, of Amarillo, Texas, on one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of pure methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox of the Northern District of Texas.

The conspiracy conviction carries a statutory penalty of at least ten years and not more than life in federal prison and a $10,000,000 fine.  Santillan is scheduled to be sentenced on March 26, 2018, by U.S. District Judge Sidney A. Fitzwater.

According to evidence presented at trial, on February 2, 2016, a Texas Department of Public Safety agent working in an undercover capacity arranged to purchase eight ounces of methamphetamine from Guadalupe Vargas-Mayorga.  Through surveillance and recorded telephone calls between the undercover agent and Vargas-Mayorga, law enforcement learned that Vargas-Mayorga obtained the eight ounces of methamphetamine from Jose Santillan and then delivered that methamphetamine to the undercover agent.  Laboratory results confirmed that Vargas-Mayorga and Santillan delivered 192 grams of pure methamphetamine to the undercover agent on February 2, 2016.  The evidence presented at trial also showed that Santillan had been supplying Vargas-Mayorga with methamphetamine for further distribution since approximately 2014. 

The Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Homeland Security, Texas Department of Public Safety, Amarillo Police Department, Potter County Sheriff’s Office, and Randall County Sheriff’s Office investigated.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean Taylor and Joshua Frausto and Deputy Criminal Chief Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Haag are prosecuting the case.

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