Rosalio Laredo-Garcia, Methamphetamine Trafficking, Arkansas 2016

FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS - A pair of Texas men have been sentenced to a combined 10 years in federal prison for their roles in a methamphetamine trafficking operation. Rosalio Laredo-Garcia, 21, of Hutchins, Texas, was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay a $1,900 fine on one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.

Laredo-Garcia's co-defendant, Hado Zepeda-Garcia, 25, of Wilmer, Texas, was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay a $4,900 fine on one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.

The sentencing hearings for the two men were held in the United States District Court in Fayetteville, with the Honorable Timothy L. Brooks presiding.

According to court documents, in February 2016, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigators received information that Hado Zepeda-Garcia planned to travel from Wilmer, Texas, to the Western District of Arkansas with several pounds of methamphetamine. On February 6, 2016, agents conducting surveillance in the Western District of Arkansas observed Zepeda-Garcia and Laredo-Garcia driving northbound on Interstate 49 in Zepeda-Garcia's vehicle.

Once the vehicle pulled into the parking lot of a local business, agents with the DEA made contact with them. Hado Zepeda-Garcia consented to the search of his vehicle, and during the search, agents located 2,897 grams of methamphetamine packaged in three separate plastic tubs that were hidden inside of an air compressor.

After waiving their Miranda rights, both Zepeda-Garcia and Laredo-Garcia admitted to agents that they planned to distribute the methamphetamine found in the vehicle in the Western District of Arkansas. Both defendants were indicted on March 18, 2016, and both entered a guilty plea in July 2016.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Kimberly D. Harris prosecuted the case for the United States.

The defendants' sentences bring the total time they will spend in prison to 10 years. The case is a reminder of the ongoing battle against methamphetamine trafficking in the region.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdar/pr/two-texas-men-sentenced-combined-10-years-federal-prison-drug-trafficking