United States Attorney Kenyen R. Brown of the Southern District of Alabama announced that Lilian Suyapa Garcia-Soto, 33, of Dallas, Texas, was sentenced today in federal court for her role in a drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracy. Court documents reflect that the organization operated between Austin, Texas, and Mobile, and that methamphetamine ice and marijuana were distributed here as a result. Court documents also establish that the drug proceeds were deposited in bank accounts in Mobile, and immediately withdrawn in Texas to pay for the drugs sold here, and to obtain additional drugs for distribution. Garcia-Soto opened one of the bank accounts used to facilitate the drug distribution and to accomplish the laundering of the drug money. She also acted as a courier who drove shipments of the drugs from Texas to Mobile. Garcia-Soto pled guilty to conspiracy to launder drug money and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine ice in October of 2015.
United States District Court Judge Kristi K. Dubose imposed a sentence 18 months concurrent on both counts. She ordered that Garcia-Soto will serve a three-year term of supervised release when she is discharged from incarceration. Judge Dubose also ordered that Garcia-Soto pay $200 in special mandatory assessments, but did not impose a fine.
The case was investigated by the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, the Department of Homeland Security Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted in the United States Attorney’s Office by Assistant United States Attorney Gloria Bedwell.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
