Meth Smuggler Ordered to Federal Prison

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 19-year-old U.S. citizen who resided in Matamoros, Mexico, has been ordered to prison for smuggling methamphetamine through the local port of entry, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Brenda Guerra Rios pleaded guilty Jan. 17, 2018, to possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine.

Today, U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen ordered Guerra-Rios to federal prison for 66 months. The sentence will be immediately followed by three years of supervised release.

On Nov. 7, 2017, Guerra-Rios attempted to make entry into the United States from Mexico through the pedestrian lane at the Gateway International Port of Entry in Brownsville. A search in secondary inspection revealed a package hidden inside a girdle near her abdomen. The package contained 491.5 grams of methamphetamine.

She 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 Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney David Coronado prosecuted the case.