Men imprisoned for dealing $500,000 of cocaine

McALLEN, Texas – Three men have been ordered to federal prison for their roles in the distribution of over 40 kilograms of cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Legal permanent resident Luis Jaime Escamilla, 50, originally from Mexico and residing there, Joel Otoniel Medina, 35, Penitas, and Andres Montalvo Jr., 38, Mission, each pleaded guilty June 16, 2023, to possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.

Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now sentenced Escamilla and Medina to serve 66 and 46 months in federal prison, respectively, while Medina received 12 months and one day. Medina and Montalvo will be on supervised release for three years following their sentences, while Escamilla could face the loss of his legal status to reside in the country. At the hearing, the court considered the number of occasions they each engaged in narcotics trafficking and the role they had in furthering the distribution of drugs into the county. The court also heard that although each of these individuals had no criminal history, the danger this volume of drugs posed to the local community merited significant sentences.

Rigoberto Beltran-Garza, 42, Hidalgo, previously received 46 months in federal prison.

On four separate occasions from October 2021 to January 2022, Escamilla entered the United States via the Pharr Port of Entry. He then met with another vehicle in a public parking lot to transfer a black bag containing bricks of cocaine on each occasion.

Law enforcement then stopped the vehicles and identified Medina, Montalvo and Beltran. The three men each admitted they were being paid to transport the cocaine. In total, law enforcement seized 41 bundles, weighing over 44 kilograms with an estimated street value of approximately $500,000.  

Escamilla has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility. Medina and Montalvo were permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender at a later date.

Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee Fry prosecuted the case.