Mexican National Sentenced to Serve a Decade in Federal Prison after Transporting Methamphetamine into Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA CITY – SIMON VELAZQUEZ HERNANDEZ, 35, a Mexican National living in California at the time of his arrest, has been sentenced to serve 120 months in federal prison following a trial on a charge of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.

Hernandez was indicted by a federal grand jury on January 17, 2024, with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. He proceeded to trial on June 18, 2024, where a federal jury heard evidence that on December 28, 2023, Hernandez was pulled over by an Oklahoma City Police officer on I-40 with approximately 40 pounds of methamphetamine in the vehicle. When initially stopped, Hernandez told the officer he was traveling from California to Arkansas to deliver Christmas presents, and the 40 pounds of methamphetamine was found inside gift wrapped boxes in the vehicle.

At the sentencing hearing on November 12, 2024, U.S. District Judge Joe Heaton sentenced Hernandez to serve 120 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. In announcing his sentence, Judge Heaton noted the nature and circumstances of the offense.

This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office, the Oklahoma City Police Department, and the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Travis Leverett and Stephen Hoch prosecuted the case.

Reference is made to public filings for additional information.