LAREDO, Texas - A 39-year-old undocumented alien who resided in Laredo has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of conspiracy with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez. Isidro Rojas Lopez pleaded guilty Aug. 17, 2017.
Today, U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo ordered he serve a total of 151 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face deportation proceedings following his release.
Lopez had admitted to recruiting a driver to transport narcotics from Laredo to San Antonio. An associate of Lopez delivered a duffle bag containing 10 bundles of methamphetamine to an undercover agent posing as a truck driver. Authorities conducted a “mock arrest" of the agent at the IH-35 checkpoint north of Laredo, at which time the narcotics were seized. The methamphetamine had a net weight of 9.765 kilograms and a purity of 98.4%.
Lopez sought to obtain documentation of the arrest. He discussed with a confidential informant that if his superiors were satisfied that the driver had actually been arrested, Rojas and the informant could be hired to transport additional loads of drugs.
Rojas stated that he was to be paid $1,000 to locate a driver.
The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Bukiewicz and Mike Eaton are prosecuting the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
