Meth trafficker gets more than 11 years in federal prison

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - A 24-year-old Edinburg man has been ordered to prison following his conviction of trafficking meth, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Enrique Alessandro Quintero pleaded guilty Aug. 6.

Today, U.S. District Judge David S. Morales handed Quintero a 135-month sentence to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the quantity of drugs.

On or about April 10, Quintero drove a Chevrolet pickup truck towing a trailer through the U.S. Border Patrol Checkpoint near Falfurrias. After a service K-9 alerted to the vehicle, law enforcement discovered the gas tank concealed 15 bundles of pure meth.

The narcotics weighed approximately 4.778 kilograms with an estimated street value in excess of $50,000. Two additional bundles of heroin were also hidden in the gas tank.

Quintero had previously been on bond but found to have violated those conditions after he failed to appear for a court setting. The court then ordered him into custody where he has been and will remain pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Reid Manning is prosecuting the case.