BROWNSVILLE, Texas – In a swift verdict, a federal jury in Brownsville has convicted 35-year-old Jesus Yzaguirre Jr. for conspiracy and methamphetamine smuggling, according to U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
The jury took less than three hours after a grueling six-day trial to convict Yzaguirre on all four counts against him. The defendant’s journey into the United States ended in his own words: he had gone into Mexico to “borrow” a van from his uncle, which police found stuffed with 29.4 kilograms of methamphetamine.
Yzaguirre initially claimed that the van was his and that he was picking it up in Mexico. His story unraveled when agents discovered the drugs hidden in the floorboard and frame compartments. He later confessed to transporting the van for another person, a female friend who promised him $50 for the favor.
Further investigation into Yzaguirre’s past revealed a pattern of drug trafficking; he had previously crossed into the U.S. with at least three other vans carrying drugs. An acquaintance confirmed that Yzaguirre knew about the drugs in the van and was working for “La Guera,” a drug trafficker.
Yzaguirre faces a sentence of 10 years to life in prison, along with a $10 million fine, when he appears before U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera on June 20, 2018. He remains in custody pending his sentencing hearing.
The investigation was led by Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from Customs and Border Protections. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Oscar Ponce and Angel Castro are handling the prosecution.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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