Press Release
Trailer full of meth lands trafficker in prison
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Texas
McALLEN, Texas – A 51-year-old Edinburg man has been sentenced following his conviction of conspiracy to possession with intent to distribute 200 kilograms of meth, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Daren Lynn Lopez pleaded guilty Nov. 16, 2022.
U.S. District Chief Judge Randy Crane has now ordered Lopez to serve 192 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard of Lopez’s long criminal history including three prior felonies. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the additive, potent and dangerous effects meth has on the community.
In March 2022, Lopez arranged for the transportation of a tractor-trailer concealing 200 kilograms of meth to be imported from Mexico. The trailer successfully entered the United States and was driven to Lopez’s truck yard in Edinburg.
Lopez then coordinated and hired a driver to transport the trailer to Dallas. Law enforcement intervened, stopped and seized the trailer on its way north. At that time, they discovered a false compartment spanning the entire roof of the trailer which concealed hundreds of bricks of meth.
The drugs have an estimated street value of $1 million.
Lopez will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Garcia prosecuted the case.
Updated March 8, 2024
Topic
Drug Trafficking
Component