Ruben Montes, a resident of Calexico, California, received a 16-month prison sentence and was ordered to forfeit $12,710 in federal court. Montes was convicted of conspiring to smuggle and distribute over $3 million worth of Mexican pesticides and veterinary drugs not approved for use in the United States.
"Bringing in and selling pesticides and veterinary drugs illegally puts both people and the environment at risk," stated U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon for the Southern District of California. "These unregulated products can be harmful to animals, insects, and humans. Our office is committed to holding accountable anyone who chooses profit over public safety."
Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson from the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division emphasized the importance of border security: "A secure border is vital to ensuring the health and safety of Americans. The Justice Department is committed to prosecuting those who violate our environmental and customs laws and jeopardize the health and safety of our citizens."
Court documents revealed that since 2020, Montes coordinated the smuggling operations involving pesticides such as Taktic and Bovitraz—unregistered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)—and veterinary drugs like Tylocet, Terramicina, Tetragent Ares, and Catarrol—not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Montes instructed his co-conspirators to transport these unapproved products from Mexico into the United States without declaring them at border crossings. Once inside U.S. borders, they stored these items in Calexico storage units before distributing them nationwide. Montes collaborated with his co-defendant Gutierrez—currently at large—to supply most of these substances to individuals involved in another case titled United States v. Toledo et al., under case number 22-cr-1965-JAH.
The EPA identified amitraz as an active ingredient in Taktic and Bovitraz pesticides. This chemical poses risks if misused in beehives due to its toxicity towards bees; it can contaminate honey products consumed by humans leading potentially serious neurological or reproductive effects.
Assistant U.S Attorneys Elizabet Brown from Southern District California alongside Stephen Da Ponte from ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section prosecuted this case successfully.
