Young Meth Smuggler Ordered to Federal Prison

LAREDO, Texas – A Laredo federal judge has sentenced a 23-year-old Florida woman for smuggling liquid methamphetamine through the local port of entry, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez. Alyssa Lopez, 23, of Panama City, Florida, pleaded guilty June 6, 2016, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Today, U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña ordered Lopez to prison for a total of 50 months. The sentence will be immediately followed by three years of supervised release.

On March 11, 2016, Lopez engaged in a conspiracy to smuggle 16.5 kilograms of liquid methamphetamine through the Gateway to the Americas Port of Entry International Bridge II in Laredo. Lopez was driving a blue Dodge Charger with Florida license plates. Inside, agents discovered three plastic horse shampoo bottles containing 16.5 kilograms of liquid methamphetamine.

She 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.