McALLEN, Texas - A 22-year-old woman from Guadalajara, Mexico, has been ordered to federal prison following her conviction of importing methamphetamine into the country, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Yezel Eunice Nevarez-Martell pleaded guilty Aug. 30, 2017.
Today, U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez ordered Nevarez to serve 168 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, Nevarez is expected to face deportation proceedings following the sentence. At the hearing, the court took into consideration that the methamphetamine had a 90% purity level which is commonly referred to as “ice." In handing down the sentence, Judge Alvarez noted that there are many young people that come before the court, sadly, on a regular basis and also expressed concern with the significant amount of such a significant drug which, once distributed, effects people at all levels of life.
At the time of her guilty plea, Nevarez admitted that on April 2, 2017, she drove a vehicle from Mexico and attempted to enter the United States at the Hidalgo port of entry, knowing the vehicle contained a controlled substance. Upon inspection, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers discovered methamphetamine hidden in a false compartment within the rear cargo area of the vehicle. Agents seized 23 packages weighing approximately 22 kilograms of methamphetamine.
Nevarez 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 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
