Juan Mendoza, Cocaine Smuggling, Texas 2022

McALLEN, Texas – A 53-year-old Mexican man has been sentenced following his conviction of importing cocaine. Juan Mendoza pleaded guilty on April 11, 2023.

On November 6, 2022, Mendoza arrived at the Donna Port of Entry and stated he had no illegal drugs in his vehicle. However, authorities referred him to secondary inspection where they found two car batteries in the back seat. Law enforcement examined the batteries and found them to contain eight packages of a white powdery substance, later determined to be cocaine with an approximate weight of eight kilograms.

The estimated street value of the cocaine was $100,000. Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Theodore Parran III and Daniel Chung prosecuted the case.

U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez has now ordered Mendoza to serve 62 months in federal prison. He also faces loss of his legal status and possible removal proceedings. In handing down the sentence, the court noted Mendoza’s key role in smuggling narcotics into the United States for further distribution.

The court heard additional evidence that Mendoza had smuggled illegal narcotics on other occasions as well.

At the time of his plea, Mendoza admitted he attempted to smuggle approximately eight kilograms of cocaine through the Donna Port of Entry. Mendoza will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Mendoza, a 53-year-old Mexican man, was convicted of importing cocaine. He pleaded guilty on April 11, 2023, and was sentenced to 62 months in federal prison. The crime occurred on November 6, 2022. The estimated street value of the cocaine was $100,000.

Mendoza faces loss of his legal status and possible removal proceedings. He will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility. The investigation was conducted by Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Theodore Parran III and Daniel Chung prosecuted the case.

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