Federal Judge Imposes Sentence for Attempted Meth Importation

LAREDO, Texas – A 34-year-old Kansas man has been ordered to federal prison for organizing an  attempt to import more than five kilograms of heroin through the Lincoln Juarez Bridge in Laredo, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez. Misael Segovia pleaded guilty

Today, U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana imposed a 140-month term of imprisonment to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release.

On Sept. 27, 2016, Amy Leigh Housholder, 31, of Emporia, Kansas, applied for admission into the United States at the Lincoln Juarez Bridge in downtown Laredo. At that time, a search of her vehicle uncovered  false compartments in the battery containing approximately five kilograms of heroin.

The Investigation uncovered Segovia as the individual who had arranged for the drugs to be imported into the United States and ultimately transported to Chicago. When confronted with this information, Segovia admitted he had helped Householder by translating between her and the individuals in Mexico supplying the heroin.

Segovia had taken Householder from Emporia, Kansas, to Wichita where he purchased a bus ticket for her to travel to Laredo.  Housholder was previously sentenced 50 months in federal prison for her role in the scheme.

Segovia was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alfredo De La Rosa and Christopher Dale Howard are prosecuting the case.