Greyhound Bus Passenger Convicted of Trafficking Narcotics

Memphis, TN – Juan Covarrubias-Garcia, 34, pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute 400 
grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams or more of cocaine. United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz 
announced the guilty plea today.

According to United States Attorney Ritz and information presented in court, on November 14, 2022, 
West Tennessee Drug Task Force Agents were working at the Greyhound bus station in Memphis, when 
they met an inbound bus from Oklahoma City. The defendant, Juan Covarrubias Garcia, a passenger on 
the bus, was found to be in possession of two brown bricks wrapped in mailing tape. Further search 
revealed the packages contained 990.8 grams of cocaine, approximately 1 kilogram of fentanyl 
powder, and 5,033 fentanyl pills.

The penalty for possession of 400 grams or more of fentanyl is not less than 10 years’ 
imprisonment, not more than life, not more than a $10,000,000 fine, and not less than 5 years’ 
supervised release. The penalty for possession of 500 grams or more, of cocaine is not less than 5 
years’ imprisonment, not more than 40 years, not more than a $5,000,000 fine, and not less than 4 
years’ supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

Sentencing is scheduled for September 13, 2023, before Chief District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman.

This case was investigated by the West Tennessee Drug Task Force and the Drug Enforcement 
Administration.

Assistant United States Attorneys Bryce Phillips and Michelle Kimbril-Parks are prosecuting this 
case.

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