Mexican Nationals Sentenced for Importing Meth

LAREDO, Texas – Two men who resided in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico,  have been ordered to federal prison following their convictions of conspiracy to import methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Jesus Francisco Perez-Lumbreras, 36, and Gerardo Cervantes-Valenzuela, 27, pleaded guilty Jan. 29, 2019.   

Today, U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña imposed a 120-month-term upon Cervantes-Valenzuela while Perez-Lumbreras was ordered to serve 57 months in federal prison. Not U.S. citizens, both are expected to face deportation proceedings following their sentences.  

At the hearing, the court noted Cervantes-Valenzuela was to blame for Perez-Lumbreras’ involvement in the offense.

On Nov. 26, 2018, Perez-Lumbreras and Cervantes-Valenzuela attempted to enter the United States from Mexico at the World Trade International Bridge in Laredo driving different vehicles approximately 40 minutes apart.

Perez-Lumbreras was referred to secondary inspection, at which time he became panicked and called Cervantes Valenzuela to try to remove drugs from his vehicle. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers stopped him as he exited his vehicle, at which time he claimed he was just attempting to remove some water from his friend’s vehicle.

Officers ultimately discovered large speaker boxes in both vehicles which contained a total of approximately 8.22 kilograms of high-purity methamphetamine (ice).

During questioning, both men admitted to having knowingly agreed with other persons in Mexico to import methamphetamine into the United States. Perez-Lumbreras claimed Cervantes-Valenzuela had promised him $40,000 Mexican pesos to smuggle the drugs from Mexico into the United States.

Cervantes-Valenzuela similarly admitted to having recruited Perez-Lumbreras.

Both men have been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

CBP and Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Francisco J. Rodriguez is prosecuting the case.