Jesse R. Gonzales, Methamphetamine and Heroin Trafficking, Louisiana 2013

Houston Man Pleads Guilty to Transporting Methamphetamine and Heroin on Mega Bus to New Orleans

Jesse R. Gonzales, a 24-year-old man from Houston, Texas, has pleaded guilty to one count of possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and heroin. According to court documents, Gonzales was arrested on November 15, 2013, while traveling on a Mega Bus from Houston to New Orleans.

Louisiana State Police troopers approached Gonzales after he exited the bus at the stop near Bienville and N. Peters Streets in New Orleans. Gonzales appeared evasive and nervous, prompting the troopers to ask for his consent to search his only bag, a red backpack. A Louisiana State Police K-9 sniffed the outside of the backpack and alerted to the presence of narcotics. Troopers subsequently searched the backpack and found approximately 417 grams of methamphetamine and approximately 25 grams of heroin.

Gonzales faces a maximum sentence of 20 years of imprisonment, a $1,000,000.00 fine, and at least three years of supervised release. U.S. District Judge Stanwood R. Duval, Jr. has scheduled sentencing for January 29, 2015.

U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite praised the work of the Louisiana State Police in investigating this matter and thanked the Orleans Parish District Attorney's Office for their assistance. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Payne is in charge of the prosecution.

Gonzales' guilty plea is a significant blow to the drug trafficking operation. The investigation and prosecution of this case demonstrate the ongoing commitment of law enforcement agencies to combating narcotics trafficking in the region.

The case is a reminder that individuals who engage in drug trafficking activities can face severe consequences, including lengthy prison sentences and substantial fines.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edla/pr/houston-man-jesse-r-gonzales-pleads-guilty-transporting-methamphetamine-and-heroin-new