Legal permanent resident sentenced after attempting to smuggle eight kilograms of cocaine

McALLEN, Texas – A 53-year-old Mexican man has been sentenced following his conviction of importing cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Juan Mendoza pleaded guilty April 11, 2023.

U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez has now ordered Mendoza to serve 62 months in federal prison. He also faces loss of his legal status and possible removal proceedings. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that Mendoza had smuggled illegal narcotics on other occasions as well. In handing down the sentence, the court noted Mendoza’s key role in smuggling narcotics into the United States for further distribution.

At the time of his plea, Mendoza admitted he attempted to smuggle approximately eight kilograms of cocaine through the Donna Port of Entry.

On Nov. 6, 2022, Mendoza stated he had no illegal drugs in his vehicle when he arrived at the checkpoint. Authorities referred him to secondary inspection where they found two car batteries in the back seat.

Law enforcement examined the batteries and found them to contain eight packages of a white powdery substance, later determined to be cocaine with an approximate weight of eight kilograms. The drugs had an estimated street value of $100,000.  

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

Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Theodore Parran III and Daniel Chung prosecuted the case.