Houston Resident Sentenced for Importing 11 Kilos of Meth into the U.S.

McALLEN, Texas – A 19-year-old man from Houston has been handed a federal prison sentence following his conviction of importing methamphetamine into the U.S., announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson. Jose Manuel Trevino Jr. pleaded guilty Nov. 24, 2014.

Today, U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez considered Trevino’s young age and ordered to him to serve a total of 75 months in federal prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, Judge Alvarez also noted that this was a serious crime because of how lethal methamphetamine is and that it can be so quick to that lethality.

On Aug. 15, 2014, Trevino was intercepted by a Texas State trooper after he drove his vehicle into the U.S. from Mexico through the Pharr Bridge. Upon investigation, authorities discovered 11 kilograms of methamphetamine hidden within several false compartments in the vehicle’s front fender area.

Trevino admitted he knew he was importing controlled substances into the U.S. and was going to be paid for delivering the narcotics further into the interior of the United States.

Trevino will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The charges were the result of an investigation conducted by the Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney David A. Lindenmuth prosecuted the case.