Gustavo Rivera-Morales, 72 Months for Trafficking Multiple Drugs, Texas 2016

A brazen scheme to smuggle massive amounts of drugs into the United States has landed a Mexican national behind bars for 72 months. Gustavo Rivera-Morales, a Pasadena resident, was ordered to prison by U.S. District Judge Randy Crane for his role in importing methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin from Mexico.

According to court documents, Rivera-Morales pleaded guilty to the charges on January 28, 2016, admitting to driving a vehicle from Mexico into the United States through the Pharr port of entry on November 30, 2015. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers discovered methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin hidden within the vehicle’s passenger and driver-side rear panels.

Agents seized a staggering amount of drugs, weighing approximately 18 kilograms of methamphetamine, four kilograms of cocaine, and three kilograms of heroin. The discovery was made during a routine inspection at the port of entry.

Rivera-Morales has been in custody without bond since his arrest in November 2015 and will remain pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The investigation was conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and CBP. Assistant U.S. Attorney Linda Requénez prosecuted the case.

Rivera-Morales is expected to face deportation proceedings following his release from prison, adding insult to injury for the brazen smuggler. The sentence handed down by Judge Crane serves as a stern warning to those who would seek to exploit the vulnerabilities of our nation’s borders.

As the Grimy Times continues to expose the dark underbelly of crime in our communities, it is clear that those who would seek to profit from the suffering of others will be brought to justice. Gustavo Rivera-Morales’ 72-month sentence is a testament to the tireless efforts of law enforcement and prosecutors who work tirelessly to keep our streets safe.

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