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June 30, 2020Laredo, TX, United StatesNarcotics, Contraband

Mexican man sentenced for transporting $250k worth in meth

Judge noted it was a shame a person trained to heal people chose to import hard drugs

LAREDO, Texas — A Mexican man was sentenced June 30 to serve six years in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 32 kilograms of methamphetamine.

This case is being conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with assistance from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Office Director.

Ramces Chavez-Gomez, 48, from Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo, Southern District of Texas, to 72 months in federal prison. On Jan 7, Chavez-Gomez plead guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute. Since he is not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face deportation proceedings following his incarceration.

According to court documents, the court considered statements regarding Chavez-Gomez’s training and practice as a doctor in Mexico. In handing down the sentence, the court noted “it was a shame Chavez-Gomez was trained to help and heal people yet chose to bring poison into our country.”

On Oct. 5, Chavez-Gomez attempted to drive his SUV through the Laredo North Border Patrol checkpoint on Interstate 35. During initial inspection, a K-9 alerted to the presence of narcotics in the rear of the vehicle. An x-ray scan then revealed a hidden compartment near its rear seats.

Authorities further inspected the vehicle and found the compartment under the carpeting in the cargo area. There, they found 20 bundles of meth that weighed approximately 32 kilograms.

The drugs have an estimated street value of more than $250,000.

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

Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Harrison, Southern District of Texas, prosecuted the case.

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