Rene Izaguirre, Marijuana Conspiracy, Texas 2013

Brownsville Man Sentenced to 18 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana and Failing to Appear in Court

BROWNSVILLE, Texas - In a harsh blow to a man who thought he could evade justice, Rene Izaguirre, a 46-year-old Brownsville resident, has been ordered to federal prison for 18 years following his conviction of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana and failing to appear in court for sentencing, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Izaguirre pleaded guilty to the drug charge on January 19, 2013, and was permitted to remain on bond. He was scheduled to appear in court on August 28, 2013, for sentencing. However, shortly before that date, Izaguirre's ankle monitor was found cut off and left behind at his home. The investigation revealed he had fled to Mexico. He was later arrested and pleaded guilty to the failure to appear on December 6, 2018.

Today, U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera imposed a 108-month sentence for the drug charge. Izaguirre also received another 108 months for failing to appear, which was ordered to be served consecutively. The total 18-year-term of imprisonment will be immediately followed by four years of supervised release.

In imposing the sentence, the court noted that not only did the defendant flee in order to avoid sentencing on his drug charge but that he also was found selling narcotics once again while on the run. From 2007 to 2013, Izaguirre was part of a drug trafficking organization working with a local freight company to hide marijuana in crates of heavy machinery for transport north of the Rio Grande Valley.

At the time of his plea, he admitted that with the help of his freight company contact, he was able to ship more than 700 kilograms of marijuana to Houston, Dallas, and Pennsylvania where he had buyers. After fleeing and failing to appear for sentencing, law enforcement found him in October 2018 in Odessa. At that time, authorities believed he was selling cocaine out of a trailer where he resided while working as a roofer. He was soon arrested and found in possession of nine ounces of cocaine.

Rene Izaguirre, 46, of Brownsville, Texas, was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana and failing to appear in court for sentencing. He was sentenced to 108 months for the drug charge and 108 months for failing to appear, to be served consecutively, totaling 18 years in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release.

The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Betancourt prosecuted the case.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdtx/pr/fugitive-headed-prison-after-failing-appear-sentencing