McALLEN, Texas – Shaun Michael Simmons, a 37-year-old Sacramento resident, was sentenced to 135 months in federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to import 22 kilograms of cocaine through the Rio Grande Valley, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Simmons pleaded guilty to the charges on October 11, 2023, after being accused of leading a narcotics import organization that brought cocaine into the United States from Mexico for further distribution. According to the court, Simmons played a leadership role in the organization, coordinating and providing instructions for the pickup and drop off of the narcotics transport trailers, and providing money to make the trips to Mexico and back to the United States.
The investigation, conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, revealed that Simmons had recruited Ericka Iesha Thomas, a 30-year-old from California, to find an individual to transport narcotics from Mexico into the United States. Thomas, in turn, recruited Dustin Oliver, a 35-year-old from Indiana, to import the controlled substance. Oliver was stopped at the Anzalduas Port of Entry in Mission, Texas, where law enforcement discovered 20 packages of narcotics concealed within aftermarket compartments in the trailer floor. The packages weighed approximately 22 kilograms and tested positive for cocaine.
Both Oliver and Thomas were previously sentenced to 24 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release for their respective roles in the conspiracy. Simmons will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane handed down the sentence after considering additional evidence that Simmons had an aggravating role by acting in a leadership capacity over other members of the organization. The court also noted Simmons’ prior criminal history.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexa D. Parcell. This sentence is a result of the hard work and dedication of law enforcement agencies and prosecutors who continue to combat the scourge of narcotics trafficking in our communities.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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