A 25-year-old Houston resident has been sentenced to 150 months in federal prison for conspiring to possess over 5,000 grams of pure meth, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Jesus Alfredo Palacios pleaded guilty to the charge on January 30, marking the beginning of the end of his reign as a major meth distributor in the Houston area. U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen handed down the sentence, followed by five years of supervised release.
The investigation into Palacios’ operation kicked off in January 2020, when law enforcement learned he was selling kilogram quantities of meth in the Houston area. The operation gained momentum on March 30, 2021, when authorities observed Palacios leaving his apartment carrying a beige colored backpack and a large box.
He then placed the box in the back seat of a gray 2011 Nissan Sentra, which was promptly pulled over by law enforcement. A strong odor of marijuana wafted from the vehicle, prompting a search that revealed two boxes in the back seat containing three plastic containers filled with a crystalized substance.
Laboratory analysis revealed the substance to be 5,768 grams of meth, with a purity level of 88%. The discovery marked a major blow to Palacios’ operation, and the 25-year-old will now face the consequences of his actions. Palacios will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation with the assistance of Precinct 3 Harris County Constable’s office. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stuart A. Burns prosecuted the case, ensuring that Palacios will face justice for his crimes. The sentence handed down by Judge Hanen serves as a reminder that those who engage in large-scale meth distribution will be held accountable for their actions.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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