McALLEN, Texas - A 45-year-old Mexican national residing in San Juan has been sentenced for his leadership role in a drug trafficking case involving nearly 40 kilograms of cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Carlos Guerrero pleaded guilty Aug. 28, 2015.
Today, U.S. District Judge Ricardo H. Hinojosa confirmed that Carlos Guerrero was previously convicted of a federal drug trafficking crime and re-imposed a 240-month sentence that he originally ordered on March 15. The court found Guerrero to be a leader/organizer within the drug trafficking organization. The sentence was enhanced due to his 2005 convictions for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine and possession with intent to distribute approximately 45.5 kilograms of cocaine. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face deportation proceedings following completion of the sentence.
On May 28, 2015, authorities followed a vehicle from the Hidalgo Port of Entry to a parking lot in McAllen. Yadira Martinez-Gomez, a 24-year-old Mexican national, was driving. She then handed the vehicle off to 43-year-old Mexican national Rodolfo Hernandez-Flores who drove it to Guerrero’s residence in San Juan. A search of the vehicle and the residence led to the seizure of 39 kilograms of cocaine. Raul Sanchez-Solano, a 40-year-old Mexican national, and Guerrero were arrested at that time and charged for storing the narcotics at the residence.
Martinez-Gomez was previously sentenced to 37 months imprisonment, while Sanchez-Solano and Hernandez-Flores received 60 and 48 months in prison, respectively.
Guerrero has been and will remain in custody 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 conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Pharr Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen J. Rees prosecuted the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
