Nicholas J. Ganjei United States Attorney for the Southern District of Texas | U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas
A Mexican national has been sentenced to over 11 years in prison for trafficking methamphetamine and heroin into the United States, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Ramon Gustavo Alfaro Velez, aged 42, entered a guilty plea on January 14. U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. sentenced Velez to 135 months in federal prison and indicated that he is likely to face removal proceedings after serving his sentence. The court emphasized the large quantity of controlled substances involved in the case and highlighted the importance of deterring future criminal activities.
The incident occurred on October 6, 2023, when Velez attempted to enter the United States by driving his Ford F-150 through the Veterans International Port of Entry. During a secondary inspection, authorities discovered 45 bundles concealed within a non-factory compartment under the truck's bed liner. Of these bundles, 43 contained methamphetamine weighing a total of 139 kilograms, while two contained heroin with a combined weight of 6.7 kilograms.
Velez will remain in custody until he is transferred to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility, which will be determined soon.
The investigation was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration, and FBI with support from Customs and Border Protection. OCDETF aims to identify, disrupt, and dismantle major criminal organizations threatening the United States through a collaborative approach led by prosecutors and driven by intelligence. More information about OCDETF can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lance Watt prosecuted this case.
