Mexican National Sentenced for Meth, Illegally Entering U.S.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Mexican national was sentenced in federal court today for possessing methamphetamine that she intended to distribute in Morgan County, Mo., and for illegally reentering the United States.

Maria Teresa Marrufo, 48, a citizen of Mexico residing in Gardner, Kan., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Fernando J. Gaitan to 10 years in federal prison without parole.

On Aug. 19, 2013, Marrufo pleaded guilty to possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and to illegally reentering the United States after having been deported.

According to court documents, Marrufo was arrested in Morgan County while delivering 224 grams of pure methamphetamine. Her 16-year-old son was driving the car, and Maruffo, the passenger, provided an alias when confronted by officers.

At the time she committed this offense, Maruffo was still on supervised release for a prior drug offense. Maruffo was convicted of two drug-trafficking felonies for attempting to smuggle marijuana into the United States. After being charged and released, Maruffo absconded and remained a fugitive from justice for 12 years. She was deported in 2012, but illegally reentered the United States and resumed her illegal drug-trafficking activities.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Lynn. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Morgan County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department and the Mid-Missouri Drug Task Force.