Mexican Meth Importer Sent to Prison

LAREDO, Texas – A 27-year-old resident of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, has been ordered to prison for importing methamphetamine into the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Leonardo Daniel Ramirez-Gallegos pleaded guilty May 1, 2018, to conspiracy to import fifty grams or more of methamphetamine.

Today, District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo sentenced Ramirez-Gallegos, to 70 months in prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face deportation proceedings following his imprisonment. In handing down the sentence, the court noted Ramirez-Gallegos was entrusted with a substantial amount of methamphetamine and that he chose to bring along his five-year-old son while committing this crime.

On Feb. 25, 2018, Ramirez-Gallegos applied for entry into the United States at the Colombia Bridge Port of Entry near Laredo driving a 2003 Honda Odyssey. His wife and small child were accompanying him.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers conducted an inspection and found approximately 13.55 kilograms of methamphetamine hidden in a trap door within each of the interior sliding doors of the Odyssey.

Ramirez-Gallegos had instructed his wife to lie to authorities if they were interviewed at the border. Ultimately, however, Ramirez-Gallegos admitted to knowingly importing the 16 bundles of methamphetamine into the United States.

He 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 conducted the investigation with the assistance of CBP. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa M. Ezra prosecuted the case.