McALLEN, Texas - A United States citizen who had been residing in Mexico has been ordered to prison for importing methamphetamine into the country from Mexico, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez. Dina Maria Palacios, 37, pleaded guilty April 4, 2017.
Today, U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez took into consideration Palacios’ conduct as well as the fact that she had her 16-year-old daughter with her during the crime. She was ordered to serve 87 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years supervised release. In handing down the sentence, Judge Alvarez noted that methamphetamine is one of the worst drugs that destroys people and the high purity level involved in this case made it even more toxic.
At the time of her guilty plea, Palacios admitted that on Jan. 6, 2017, she had driven a vehicle from Mexico into the United States through the Pharr port of entry, knowing the vehicle contained a controlled substance. Upon inspection, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers discovered methamphetamine hidden within the rear cargo area of the vehicle. Agents seized 23 packages weighing approximately 25 kilograms of methamphetamine.
Palacios has been in custody without bond since her arrest where she will remain pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and CBP conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Linda Requénez prosecuted the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
