A Dallas man has been sentenced to 40 years in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine sourced from Mexico, according to an announcement by United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould.
“Ejecting transnational drug traffickers from our streets is critical to protecting North Texas,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “This criminal spilled poison into our communities in exchange for money. All credit for the conviction and 40-year prison sentence goes to our heroes in law enforcement and our line prosecutor, who worked in close collaboration with the Dallas Homeland Security Task Force.”
Joseph B. Tucker, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Dallas Division, commented on the sentencing: “The sentence of Mr. Mejia-Mendoza sends clear message to drug traffickers that they will be held accountable for the distribution of poisonous drugs and violence in North Texas. This investigation demonstrates what coordinated, intelligence-driven, law enforcement can accomplish. The men and women of DEA and our partners remain committed to pursuing and dismantling foreign terrorist organizations that endanger Americans.”
FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock added: “This lengthy sentence is another success for the Dallas Homeland Security Task Force. Our collective effort resulted in a member of a transnational criminal organization being held accountable for trafficking narcotics into the Dallas area.”
Orlando Gerardo Mejia-Mendoza, a resident of Dallas, pleaded guilty in June 2025 to possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute it. Court records indicate that during 2023 he received shipments of liquid methamphetamine from Mexico—sometimes as much as 20 to 25 kilograms per shipment—paying $1,800 per kilogram. Authorities discovered one apartment used by Mejia-Mendoza had an operational lab converting liquid methamphetamine into its crystal form; agents found methamphetamine at various stages of processing throughout this location. Another apartment linked to him contained multiple firearms and cash.
On January 14, 2026, U.S. District Judge Ada Brown handed down a sentence of 480 months’ imprisonment.
This prosecution was part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative created under Executive Order 14159, which aims to eliminate criminal cartels and other transnational organizations operating both within the United States and abroad through interagency cooperation.
The investigation involved agents from several federal agencies—including FBI, DEA, and HSI—and received support from local police departments such as those in Dallas, Coppell, and Grand Prairie. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas led the prosecution.
