Kansas Man Found Guilty in Del Rio for Smuggling Meth into U.S.

DEL RIO, Texas– A federal jury convicted a Kansas man for one count of importation of methamphetamine and one count of conspiracy to import methamphetamine.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on March 16, Juan Antonio Antuna Jr., 32, of Wichita, drove a white van bearing Mexican license plates as he arrived at the Del Rio International Bridge to enter into the United States from Mexico. Antuna presented a Kansas driver’s license, declared to U.S. Customs and Border Protection that he possessed merchandise and food products, and was directed to secondary inspection. During the vehicle inspection, CBP officers located food and vinyl signs, which Antuna had declared. They also located two concrete pedestals. The pedestals were inspected further and found to contain a white powdery substance. The substance tested positive for 6.06 kgs of methamphetamine.

The jury trial began on Oct. 30, resulting in a guilty verdict on Oct. 31. A sentencing date has not yet been determined.

U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.

Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Customs and Border Protection investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tyler Fleming and Joseph Duarte II are prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).

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