California man sentenced in South Texas to more than 11 years in federal prison for trafficking nearly 300 pounds of methamphetamine

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A California man was sentenced Tuesday to more than 11 years in federal prison following his conviction for his part in a conspiracy to traffic 132 kilograms (291 lbs.) of methamphetamine through South Texas.

This sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson, Southern District of Texas. The joint investigation was conducted by the following agencies:  U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Texas Department of Public Safety, Kingsville (Texas) Specialized Crimes and Narcotics Task Force, Kleberg County (Texas) District Attorney’s Office, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Marshals Service.

Deandre Bennett, 57, of San Bernardino, was sentenced Dec. 13 by U.S. District Judge Hayden Head to 135 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by four years of supervised release. Bennett pleaded guilty to the charges March 29.

Members of the Kingsville Specialized Crimes and Narcotics Task Force encountered Bennett on Dec. 2, 2015, while he was travelling northbound on U.S. Highway 77. A search of the tractor-trailer he was operating revealed more than 132 kilograms of methamphetamine hidden inside wooden pallets. Bennett admitted the drugs were headed to Corpus Christi.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany Jensen, Southern District of Texas, is prosecuting this case.