Couple Sentenced for 50-Pound Meth Trafficking Ring

Couple Sentenced for 50-Pound Meth Trafficking Ring

Pocatello, ID – In a shocking turn of events, a Texas couple has been sentenced for their involvement in a massive methamphetamine trafficking operation. Sergio Javier Varela-Vallecillo, 30, and his wife, Felicia Inez Varela, 29, of Navasota, Texas, were found guilty of transporting over 50 pounds of meth from California to Minnesota.

According to court documents, the defendants were stopped by an Idaho State Police trooper on March 9, 2013, while traveling in a U-Haul truck on U.S. Highway 20 in Idaho Falls. In the back of the truck, officers discovered approximately 50 pounds of methamphetamine and a large quantity of cocaine.

The defendants, who pleaded guilty to the one-count indictment on November 26, 2013, admitted to knowing the substance they were transporting was methamphetamine and that they were transporting it with the intention of delivering it to another individual in Minnesota.

Sergio Varela-Vallecillo, a Honduran national, was sentenced to 70 months in prison, after which he will be deported. His wife, Felicia Varela, was sentenced to 30 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release.

The case was investigated by Idaho State Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The government is seeking forfeiture of assets derived from the offense conduct.

The sentence is a stark reminder of the dangers of methamphetamine trafficking and the efforts of law enforcement agencies to combat this serious crime. As a result of their actions, Sergio and Felicia Varela-Vallecillo will face the consequences of their involvement in this trafficking operation.

According to the U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson, the sentence is a significant win for justice and a testament to the dedication of law enforcement agencies in Idaho and beyond.