Three Sentenced for Transporting Drugs Via Lancha

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Three Mexican nationals have been sentenced for conspiring to import 611 kilograms of marijuana into the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Julio Cesar Cruz-Amaro, 31, Tito Mar-Herrera, 35, and Miguel Angel Ender-Diaz, 56, pleaded guilty March 1, 2018, for their involvement in conspiring to import marijuana into the United States while on board a vessel.

Today, U.S. Circuit Judge Gregg Costa, sitting by designation, sentenced Cruz-Amaro to a 60-month-term of imprisonment, while Mar-Herrera and Ender-Diaz both received terms of 36 months. Not U.S. citizens, all are expected to face deportation proceedings following their sentences.

On Dec. 13, 2017, authorities detected and captured a Mexican lancha boat crew illegally transporting narcotics while in federal waters off southern Texas. Cruz-Amaro, Mar-Herrera and Ender-Diaz were interdicted in the vicinity of Packery Channel near Port Aransas along with one lancha and 30 bales of marijuana totaling 611 kilograms. 

U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) originally detected the vessel offshore traveling northbound towards the United States which was then intercepted with the assistance of Custom and Border Protection (CBP) approximately nine nautical miles offshore. 

They had admitted a criminal organization hired them to bring the drugs into the United States through Corpus Christi.

A lancha is a fishing boat used by Mexican fishermen that is approximately 20-30 feet long with a slender profile, typically has one outboard motor and is capable of traveling at speeds exceeding 30 mph.

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

USCG conducted the investigation with the assistance of CBP. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Jeffrey S. Miller and AUSA David Paxton prosecuted the case.