Nicholas J. Ganjei United States Attorney for the Southern District of Texas | U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas
A Houston woman has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for her involvement in drug trafficking activities between Houston and Rockport. U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei announced that Cheri Ann Palmer, aged 45, pleaded guilty on September 26, 2024.
U.S. District Judge David Morales ordered Palmer to serve a total of 300 months—240 months for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine and an additional 60 months for possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. This sentence will be followed by three years of supervised release.
"The Southern District of Texas does not tolerate drug traffickers," stated Ganjei. "Drugs, especially methamphetamine and fentanyl, destroy lives and damage communities. Our Corpus Christi office did great work taking this dealer off the streets."
The case began on October 2, 2023, when law enforcement responded to a disturbance at a local motel where they found Palmer with drugs and a firearm. A search revealed more methamphetamine and fentanyl in her motel room.
Further investigation led authorities to Houston, where they observed Palmer loading drugs into a vehicle. A traffic stop uncovered significant quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl analogue, heroin mixed with fentanyl, marijuana, cocaine, and counterfeit pills containing various substances including fentanyl.
Palmer admitted that some drugs were smuggled from Mexico and had been dealing drugs in the Houston area for several years.
She remains in custody awaiting transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility.
The Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation with support from multiple agencies including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Marshals Service; Rockport Police Department; and Harris County Sheriff's Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Yasmine K. Tucker and Ashley Martin prosecuted the case.
