LAREDO, Texas – Santos Joel Garza, a 28-year-old Houston resident, has been sentenced to two decades in federal prison for his role in a brazen methamphetamine smuggling scheme. The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Garza, who pleaded guilty on November 5, 2024, was ordered by U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison to serve 240 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release. The court also considered Garza’s extensive criminal history, including multiple robbery convictions and an assault on detention guards.
In a statement, Ganjei emphasized the destructive nature of methamphetamine, saying, “Methamphetamine destroys lives and poisons American communities.” He added that the substantial amount of methamphetamine seized—approximately 90 pounds—suggested Garza’s involvement in drug smuggling goes back years.
The investigation revealed that on January 13-14, 2023, Garza and Britain Jean Sada traveled from Houston to Laredo. Sada crossed into Mexico to pick up the drugs hidden in torque converters. Garza remained in Laredo and provided his cell phone for use while in Mexico. Upon their return, authorities discovered 41.35 kilograms of methamphetamine concealed in the converters.
Garza admitted to facilitating the drug transaction and having participated in similar events before. He is currently being held pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility. Sada, 36, also pleaded guilty and is scheduled for sentencing on July 24. The Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) conducted the operation with assistance from Customs and Border Protection.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Scott Bowling prosecuted the case. For more information about the OCDETF Program, visit the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Public Corruption|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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