Grand Jury Indicts Oakland Man Who Received Meth Smuggled In Picture Frame

PITTSBURGH - An Oakland man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

The two-count indictment named Carmelo Rojas-Perez, 31, as the sole defendant.

According to court filings, the defendant had approximately one kilogram of methamphetamine smuggled to him from Mexico with the intent of distributing the drugs. The drugs were hidden inside the frame of a religious picture.

The law provides for a minimum sentence of at least 10 years in prison and a maximum total sentence of life in prison, a fine of $10,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Ross E. Lenhardt is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.

An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.