DEL RIO, Texas – A Texas couple has been locked away for decades in a federal prison sentence following their conviction for importing and distributing large quantities of methamphetamine.
In a gritty operation spanning state lines, Joseph Ivy, 45, was handed a 37-year sentence for conspiracy to import and distribute the drug. His spouse, Yvette Contreras, 35, was sentenced to 25 years in April 2023 for her role in the scheme.
The Dimmit County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) led the charge against this ruthless duo, uncovering a cache of 1.5 kgs of meth, $7,389 in cash, firearms, and a ledger detailing drug transactions during a home raid on Aug. 18, 2020.
But that was just the beginning. Ivy faced another traffic stop where he was found with 2.4 kgs of meth. His confessions revealed shipments to Moorhead, Minn., and Charlotte, Texas, along with connections to Margaret Charles Garcia, who imported drugs at his behest.
“These traffickers worked directly with Mexican drug cartels to bring harmful narcotics into our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “My office is committed to dismantling criminal organizations and holding their members accountable.”
Ivy’s co-conspirator, Garcia, pleaded guilty in March 2022 to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, facing her own sentence hearing on Oct. 2.
“HSI is committed to disrupting drug traffickers like Joseph Ivy and Yvette Contreras,” said Deputy Special Agent in Charge Alejandro Amaro for the Homeland Security Investigations San Antonio Division. “Our efforts aim to protect lives and communities from the devastation caused by these criminals.”
The DCSO and HSI jointly investigated this case, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brett Miner and Zach Bird prosecuting it.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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