A Brownsville woman has been handed a significant sentence for her role in importing a large quantity of methamphetamine into the United States. Ana Luisa Ponce, 54, pleaded guilty to the charges on November 1, 2021.
Ponce was arrested on August 25, 2021, while attempting to cross into the country through the Hidalgo Port of Entry. A K-9 unit alerted authorities to the presence of narcotics in her vehicle, which led to a secondary inspection and the discovery of 76 kilograms of liquid methamphetamine in a plastic pouch hidden in the gas tank.
The methamphetamine had an estimated street value of $1.4 million. Ponce admitted to knowing that she was transporting narcotics and had previously worked with the same drug trafficking organization.
Ponce has a significant prior criminal record and will serve 262 months in federal prison. She will also be subject to five years of supervised release after her prison term. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez.
The investigation into Ponce’s activities was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarina S. DiPiazza prosecuted the case.
The sentencing of Ponce marks another significant blow to the scourge of methamphetamine trafficking in the region. The estimated street value of the seized methamphetamine highlights the devastating impact of this type of crime on local communities.
Ponce is currently in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons Facility to be determined in the near future.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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