Alamdar Hamdani U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas
A Houston resident has been sentenced to 36 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei following the conviction of Alyssa Marie Maldonado, who pleaded guilty on October 16, 2024.
U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez also ordered Maldonado to serve three years of supervised release after her prison term. During the hearing, additional testimony highlighted Maldonado's involvement in smuggling activities, particularly her efforts to hide drugs within a vehicle.
On March 24, 2024, Maldonado attempted to enter the United States at the Brownsville and Matamoros International Port of Entry. Initially, she denied carrying any contraband and gave false reasons for her visit to Mexico. However, a secondary inspection revealed anomalies in the fuel tank of her vehicle where authorities found 22 packages testing positive for fentanyl with a total weight of 8.70 kilograms.
Maldonado had been released on bond but was taken into custody following her sentencing and will remain there until she is transferred to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations with help from Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Blackmon prosecuted the case.
