Mexican Mafia Gang Member Hammered for Selling Meth

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 35-year-old Corpus Christi resident has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction for conspiracy to sell crystal methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. 

Brandon Sanchez, an identified member of the Mexican Mafia prison gang, pleaded guilty Feb. 14, 2019. Co-defendants Juan Lopez Jr. and Belinda Lopez have also entered guilty pleas and are scheduled to be sentenced at a later date.

Today, Senior U.S. District Judge John D. Rainey sentenced Sanchez to a total of 238 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. In imposing the sentence, the court designated Sanchez as a career offender based on his criminal history. Judge Rainey further noted that methamphetamine is a terrible and highly addictive drug and that trafficking it warrants a substantial sentence.

Authorities discovered that a drug trafficking organization was selling methamphetamine in the Corpus Christi area beginning in June 2017. Agents discovered Sanchez was supplying high purity methamphetamine - known as “ice” - to others, including Juan and Belinda Lopez. They would then sell the narcotics, often using social media.

Agents have seized approximately 50 grams of “ice” but estimate the defendants distributed multiple pounds of methamphetamine over the course of the conspiracy.

On Sept. 23, 2018, law enforcement pulled Sanchez over and found him in possession of $2,696 in U.S. currency and a stolen firearm. Sanchez had previously been convicted of violent crimes, including robbery and aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon in 2002 and 2005, respectively. 

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

The Drug Enforcement Administration, Border Patrol and the Corpus Christi Police Department conducted the joint investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Paxton prosecuted the case.