Texas Man Pleads Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine

Gulfport, Miss. –   A Texas man pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration.  

Miguel Mendoza, 33, of Elgin, Texas, pled guilty on January 17, 2023, in U.S. District Court in Gulfport. 

According to court records, on Monday, October 17, 2022, Harrison County Sheriff’s Deputies conducted a traffic stop on Interstate 10 East in Pass Christian, Mississippi.  Mendoza was the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle.  An extensive search of the vehicle revealed a pressure activated access panel for two improvised compartments on each side of the vehicle’s drive shaft. The driver side compartment contained (2) cellophane wrapped packages containing 2.5 kilograms of cocaine. The passenger side compartment contained (2) plastic and aluminum foil wrapped packages containing 1 kilogram of methamphetamine.  Tools were located inside the vehicle that were readily available to raise the vehicle and gain access to the compartment.

Mendoza will be sentenced on April 13, 2023, and faces a minimum of 10 years to life in prison.   A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. 

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose.