McALLEN, Texas - A total of six people have been ordered to prison for terms ranging from approximately 10-24 years for their respective roles in a marijuana and cocaine conspiracy, announced United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson.
Jose Guadalupe Rangel-Hernandez, 51, of Miguel Aleman, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Randy Crane to a 292-month-term of federal imprisonment. Area residents Carlos Guerra, 36, of Pharr; Guy Oshiro Lugo, 48, of Alamo; Lineth Guerra, 39, of Mission; and Deborah Garcia, 46, and Alberto Aguirre, 49, both of Weslaco, received sentences of 210, 168, 160, 121 and 235 months, respectively.
All the defendants had previously entered pleas of guilty to one count of conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana. Additionally, Carlos Guerra and Lineth Guerra were found guilty of conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine.
From 2009 and 2011, the defendants were part of drug conspiracy headed by Israel Garcia which was responsible for distributing thousands of tons of marijuana and multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine. In January 2011, Israel Garcia and Lineth Guerra were arrested in a hotel in McAllen and found to be in possession of more than $300,000. Additionally, information obtained as a result of their apprehension led to the seizure of more than 7,000 kilograms of marijuana.
The investigation revealed Rangel-Hernandez, Carlos Guerra, Lineth Guerra and Deborah Garcia all assisted Israel Garcia in transporting the narcotics from the Rio Grande Valley to Florida, Georgia and Ohio.
Israel Garcia was also convicted and will be sentenced at a later date.
The investigation leading to the charges was conducted by the Homeland Security Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration and Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant United States Attorney James Sturgis prosecuted the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
