Mexican National Heads to Federal Prison for Smuggling Meth and Heroin

LAREDO, Texas – A 48-year-old man from Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, has been sentenced for conspiracy to import crystal methamphetamine and brown heroin, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez. Genaro Garcia-Gutierrez pleaded guilty Nov. 1, 2016.

Today, U.S. District Judge George P. Kazen ordered him to prison for 150 months. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face deportation proceedings following his release.

On July 20, 2016, Garcia-Gutierrez took part in a conspiracy to smuggle 5.22 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine and 1.7 kilograms of brown heroin through the Lincoln-Juarez International Bridge in Laredo. He was driving a 2008 Dodge Nitro with Mexican license plates. Authorities soon discovered 10 packages containing the crystal methamphetamine and four packages with the brown heroin in the rear passenger quarter panel of the vehicle.

Garcia-Gutierrez 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 José Angel Flores Jr. prosecuted the case.