McALLEN, Texas – A 42-year-old Raymondville man has been ordered to federal prison for drug trafficking, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Ricardo Garcia Jr. pleaded guilty July 29, 2022, admitting he imported three kilograms of meth into the United States from Mexico.
Today, U.S. District Judge Randy Crane ordered him to serve a 120-month sentence to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard about Garcia’s various gang affiliations before imposing the sentence. Judge Crane noted Garcia was not in a leadership position of control within a drug trafficking organization, but did transport narcotics into the United States.
On May 18, 2022, Garcia attempted to make entry into the United States through the Hidalgo Port of Entry. During inspection, Garcia changed his story several times regarding his purpose of entering the country. A narcotics K-9 alerted to the vehicle and to Garcia himself.
Law enforcement referred him to secondary inspection where they soon found 12 packages of meth concealed under his clothing and inside of his boots. Lab results indicated the meth had a purity level of 95%.
Garcia subsequently admitted he was importing the meth from Mexico into the United States and was to be paid $2,000 for delivery of the drugs to McAllen.
He has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Devin V. Walker prosecuted the case.