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April 27, 2023McAllen, United StatesNarcotics

Man pleads guilty to importing meth following HSI McAllen, federal partner investigation

MCALLEN, Texas — A South Texas man pleaded guilty April 24 to importing meth after a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) McAllen and U.S. Customs and Border Protection investigation. Argelio Chavero, 50, of Alton, admitted to aiding and abetting another man to bring meth into the country before a federal judge.

According to court documents, on April 22, 2021, Chavero drove a Chevrolet Trailblazer into Mexico from the United States with Agustin Romero Jr. in the passenger seat. They returned in the same vehicle, which was laden with narcotics, two days later. Upon entry, authorities referred Chavero, who was driving the vehicle, to secondary inspection. There, they discovered anomalies in the fuel tank area. A physical search resulted in the seizure of 33 packages of meth and marijuana. The weight of the meth was approximately 12 kilograms and had an estimated street value of approximately $70,000.

U.S. District Judge Ricardo H. Hinojosa will impose sentencing for Chavero May 25. At that time, he faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison and a possible $250,000 fine.

Chavero remains in custody pending that hearing.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Colton Turner and Eliza Rodriguez of the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the case.

HSI is the principal investigative arm of DHS, responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel, and finance move. HSI’s workforce of more than 8,700 employees consists of more than 6,000 special agents assigned to 237 cities throughout the United States, and 93 overseas locations in 56 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’s largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.

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