CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - A 31-year-old Corpus Christi man has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, commonly known as crack cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson. Gilbert Bustamante pleaded guilty Aug. 4, 2016.
Today, U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzalez Ramos handed Bustamante a 77-month sentence to be immediately followed by four years of supervised release.
On March 2, 2016, law enforcement officers were attempting to locate and arrest a wanted individual at Bustamante’s residence in Corpus Christi. When Bustamante opened the door, officers detected the odor of marijuana inside the residence. Based on the odor, law enforcement officers obtained and executed a search warrant. During that search, officers discovered 47 grams of cocaine base, a digital scale, approximately $5,000 in U.S. currency and a.38 caliber handgun.
In federal custody since his arrest, Bustamante will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Corpus Christi Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lance Watt prosecuted the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
