Brandon Sanchez, Methamphetamine Conspiracy, Texas 2019

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – In a major blow to the Mexican Mafia prison gang, 35-year-old Brandon Sanchez has been sentenced to 238 months in federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to sell crystal methamphetamine.

Sanchez, a identified member of the notorious gang, pleaded guilty to the charges on Feb. 14, 2019. His co-defendants, Juan Lopez Jr. and Belinda Lopez, have also entered guilty pleas and are scheduled to be sentenced at a later date.

Senior U.S. District Judge John D. Rainey imposed the sentence, designating Sanchez as a career offender based on his extensive criminal history. The judge noted that methamphetamine is a highly addictive and destructive drug, and that trafficking it warrants a substantial sentence.

According to authorities, Sanchez was part of a larger drug trafficking organization that was selling methamphetamine in the Corpus Christi area beginning in June 2017. Agents discovered that Sanchez was supplying high-purity methamphetamine, known as “ice,” to others, including Juan and Belinda Lopez, who would then sell the narcotics using social media.

Law enforcement agents have seized approximately 50 grams of “ice” but estimate that the defendants distributed multiple pounds of methamphetamine over the course of the conspiracy. On Sept. 23, 2018, Sanchez was pulled over by law enforcement and found to be in possession of $2,696 in U.S. currency and a stolen firearm. Sanchez had previously been convicted of violent crimes, including robbery and aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon in 2002 and 2005, respectively.

The joint investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Border Patrol, and the Corpus Christi Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Paxton prosecuted the case, which was announced by U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Sanchez will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The sentence handed down to Sanchez is a significant victory for law enforcement and a major setback for the Mexican Mafia. The case highlights the ongoing efforts of federal and local authorities to disrupt and dismantle organized crime groups involved in drug trafficking and other illicit activities. As the war on drugs continues, cases like this serve as a reminder of the importance of cooperation and coordination between law enforcement agencies.

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