Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Provide Contraband to an Inmate

McALLEN, Texas – A 24-year-old Mexican National has entered a guilty plea to attempting to provide contraband to a federal inmate, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson. Karen Yudith Reyes-Oliva pleaded guilty to a criminal complaint at a hearing today in federal court in McAllen before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter E. Ormsby.

In April 2016, Reyes went to the East Hidalgo Detention Center in La Villa to visit her boyfriend, an inmate who was in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service on federal narcotics charges. Upon walking through the metal detector, correctional officers discovered that Reyes had concealed a cellular phone and charger underneath her clothing. 

Visitors are prohibited from bringing contraband, including cellular phones, into a correctional facility. 

Sentencing has been set for June 9, 2016, at 3:00 p.m., at which time Reyes faces up to a year in federal prison and a possible $100,000 maximum fine. She has been in custody since her arrest where she will remain pending that hearing.

The U.S. Marshals Service initiated the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Linda Requénez is prosecuting the case.