A 49-year-old Mission man has been ordered to serve 11 years in federal prison for his role in a meth trafficking operation.
Eugenio Perez Jr. was convicted of conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of meth following a two-day trial in U.S. District Court in McAllen. The jury deliberated for approximately 40 minutes before returning a guilty verdict.
The conviction stems from a 2019 drag racing incident that resulted in a two-car collision. According to testimony, authorities discovered 1.6 kilograms of meth while investigating the incident. A local police officer testified that he approached Perez after observing him pull a bag from his truck’s cab and place it into the bed of the truck.
Perez’s daughter arrived on the scene and took the bag from the bed of the truck, placing it in her car. The officer stopped her from leaving the area and asked her to show him what was inside the bag. The daughter opened the bag, revealing the large quantity of meth.
The defense attempted to convince the jury that law enforcement had rushed to judgment and did not perform an adequate and thorough enough investigation to convict Perez. However, the jury disagreed and found him guilty as charged.
U.S. District Judge Randy Crane ordered Perez to serve 135 months in federal prison. Perez will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration with the assistance of the Palmview Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Mitchell and M. Alexis Garcia prosecuted the case.
The conviction is a significant blow to the meth trafficking operation in the Rio Grande Valley, according to authorities.
Eugenio Perez Jr.’s conviction and sentencing serve as a reminder that meth trafficking will not be tolerated in our community.
Related Federal Cases
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
