LAREDO, Texas - A 31-year-old resident of Montemorelos, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, has been ordered to prison following his conviction of conspiracy with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Rolando Garcia-Fuentes pleaded guilty March 2, 2018.
Today, U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña ordered Garcia-Fuentes to serve 87 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face deportation proceedings following completion of his sentence.
On Dec. 9, 2017, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of a northbound white Ford Freestar van Garcia-Fuentes was driving on IH-35 in La Salle County. At that time, he gave an implausible story regarding his travel.
A search of the vehicle revealed tampering and tool marks on the van’s stereo compartment and dashboard. Garcia-Fuentes agreed to return to the Border Patrol checkpoint where a canine gave a positive alert for the presence of narcotics and/or concealed humans. Authorities removed the stereo compartment and discovered signs of tampering with the vehicle’s air conditioning unit. They discovered a total of 16 bundles that tested positive for methamphetamine and had a net weight of nearly eight kilograms.
Garcia-Fuentes admitted he was getting paid to transport narcotics to the Dallas area and acknowledged he had done so on a previous occasion and was paid approximately $8,000.
Border Patrol and the Drug Enforcement Administration with the assistance of the Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Bukiewicz prosecuted the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
