Mexican Woman Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Transporting Heroin

On Thursday, June 28, 2018, Martha Z. Gamboa-Madrid, 49, was sentenced to five years in federal prison for possession with the intent to distribute heroin, United States Attorney Donald S. Boyce announced. Gamboa-Madrid was previously indicted on October 18, 2017.

The investigation began on June 12, 2017, when members of the Illinois State Police interdiction team made a traffic stop on Interstate 70, near Highland, Illinois. During the stop, the trooper obtained consent to search the car and located a concealed compartment containing packages totaling just over five kilograms of heroin.

Although she is a citizen of Mexico, Gamboa-Madrid was lawfully present in the United States at the time of the offense, having obtained a nonresident visitor visa. That visa has since been revoked as a result of her arrest in this case.

The investigation was conducted by agents from the Illinois State Police and its Metropolitan Enforcement Group of Southern Illinois. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft.