Leading member of drug smuggling group headed to prison

LAREDO, Texas – A 66-year-old Mexican man has been sentenced for his role in smuggling fentanyl into the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Juan Hernandez Alcantar pleaded guilty Aug. 6.

U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo has now ordered him to serve 168 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, Alcantar is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. In handing down the sentence, Judge Marmolejo noted Alcantar’s role as a leader/organizer, how deadly and dangerous fentanyl is and the number of deaths that could result from such a large amount of drugs.

In July 2023, Alcantar recruited drug mules to transport fentanyl and cocaine. He had been residing at his daughter’s residence and was using her vehicle to conduct his drug operation. During the scope of the conspiracy, Alcantar arranged for the smuggling of 2,194 grams of fentanyl, 1,200 grams of heroin and 2,100 grams of cocaine.

Authorities learned Alcantar was going to be smuggled to San Antonio in a tractor trailer with other undocumented aliens in an effort to evade the Border Patrol checkpoint north of Laredo. They were able to stop the trailer and take him into custody. 

Alcantar is an undocumented alien who has a history of illegally entering the United States and committing criminal offenses. 

Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with assistance from Border Patrol as part of the South Texas High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Task Force. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Terence A. Check Jr. prosecuted the case assistance of Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Hakala-Finch.