South Texas man on his way to prison for smuggling $1.7 million in meth

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX -- A 36-year-old Edinburg man has been ordered to federal prison for possession with the intent to distribute more than 25 kilograms of meth, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Sarafin Rodriguez Pena pleaded guilty Aug. 29, 2019.

Today, U.S. District Judge David S. Morales handed Pena a 132-month sentence for to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the defendant’s lack of prior criminal history but concluded the significant sentence was warranted given the quantity of drugs involved.

On July 7, 2019, Pena drove a white Ford Focus into the primary inspection area of the Border Patrol checkpoint near Falfurrias. A careful search of the vehicle revealed bundles of meth concealed within the speakers mounted in the car.

Laboratory analysis later confirmed the substance in the bundles was indeed meth.

The drugs weighed a total of 25.5 kilograms with a value of more than $1.7 million.

He has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

This Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert D. Thorpe Jr. is prosecuting the case.