Judge Sentences Houston Man for Attempted Importation of Meth

LAREDO, Texas – A 52-year-old Houston man has been sentenced in Laredo federal court to a 94-month-term of imprisonment for attempting to import 17 kilograms of methamphetamine, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez. Octavio Gomez-Solis pleaded guilty March 6, 2017.

Today, U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana imposed the sentence which will be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the defendant’s criminal history and stated that a lengthy prison sentence was needed to deter such conduct.

On Dec. 20, 2016, Gomez-Solis arrived at the Lincoln-Juarez Bridge and applied for admittance to the United States. At that time, a K9 alerted to the presence of narcotics and Gomez-Solis was referred to secondary inspection. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents then discovered 12 bundles concealed within the radiator of the vehicle. The bundles of methamphetamine weighed a total of 17.52 kilograms.

Gomez-Solis admitted he knew he was transporting something “illegal,” but was not sure what type of drug it was.

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

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and CBP conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alfredo De La Rosa prosecuted the case.