TUCSON, Ariz. – Last week, the gritty tale of Ruben Betancourt-Hernandez, 29, from Tuxpan, Veracruz, Mexico, hit a grim conclusion when he was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps. The charges? Possession with intent to distribute marijuana and the audacious use of firearms during drug trafficking.
The saga began on Sept. 13, 2016, near Sonoita, Ariz., when Border Patrol agents engaged a group of suspected narcotic smugglers. Two were apprehended, one of whom was Betancourt-Hernandez. At the scene, agents found not just bundles of marijuana but also two loaded rifles – an AR-15 and an AK-47 – extra magazines, and over 300 rounds of ammunition.
Betancourt-Hernandez’s admission during his guilty plea was a chilling testament to his role in the drug organization. He confessed that he planned to deliver the stash to fellow traffickers and carried the AR-15 as a safeguard for the illicit cargo.
Conducting the investigation were the Department of Homeland Security- Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Border Patrol, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Lawrence C. Lee leading the prosecution in Tucson. The case number is CR-16-01935 TUC JGZ (JR), and it has been assigned release number 2017-041_.
For further information on the goings-on at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit their official site. Stay updated with the latest through their Twitter account @USAO_AZ.
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Key Facts
- State: Arizona
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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