Houston man sentenced for trafficking meth

HOUSTON, TX -- A 21-year-old resident of Houston has been ordered to prison following his conviction for attempting to import approximately 60.88 kilograms of meth, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Hector Julian Valerio-Andrade pleaded guilty Dec. 3, 2019.

Today, U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez handed Valerio a 140-month sentence to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court noted Valerio had stated he was trafficking drugs in order to receive a $6,500 payment and that he had planned the offense for several weeks before he finally made the attempt.

On Oct. 6, 2019, Valerio entered the United States through the Brownsville and Matamoros (B&M) port of entry as the driver and sole occupant of a 2008 Ford Explorer. Authorities soon discovered approximately 60.88 kilograms of meth inside the vehicle’s tires.

Valerio admitted he knowingly imported the drugs into the United States from Mexico with the intent to deliver them to Dallas. He expected to be paid $6,500.

The drugs had an estimated street value of $1.32 million.

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

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’ s Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian McDonald prosecuted the case.