Mexican national sentenced to 5 years in meth smuggling conspiracy
PITTSBURGH, Pa. — An illegal alien from Mexico was sentenced Feb. 27 to 60 months in federal prison for his role in a methamphetamine smuggling conspiracy. The sentencing comes after an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Pennsylvania State Police (PSP).
Carmelo Rojas-Perez, 31, born in Toluca, Mexico, was living in Pittsburgh when he initially received a “test” package from his hometown that contained a framed religious picture but no drugs. He was instructed by co-conspirators to ensure there were no indications that law enforcement had intercepted the package. After assuring himself the package had not been tampered with, he stored it in his residence.
Rojas-Perez received two additional framed religious pictures, containing nearly 1 kilogram of methamphetamine hidden inside the hollowed-out frames about a week later. HSI special agents and Pennsylvania State Police Western Interdiction Unit Troopers intercepted the parcel and executed a search warrant at his residence before the methamphetamine could make it onto the streets.
“Left unchecked, this highly dangerous substance destroys lives and wreaks havoc on entire communities,” said John Kelleghan, HSI Philadelphia special agent in charge. “HSI, together with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners, is committed to using every tool and authority at its disposal to combat the menace posed by methamphetamine.”
The drugs’ street value is estimated to be worth between $22,000 and $45,000, depending on how much it would be diluted before reaching actual users. It was an estimated 3,500 to 7,000 individual hits of methamphetamine.
Investigators also located Rojas-Perez’s cellphone in his residence and found it had both text messages with his meth co-conspirators and pictures of apparent drugs on top of piles of money.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ross E. Lenhardt prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
U.S. Attorney Hickton commended HSI, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Pennsylvania State Police Western Interdiction Unit for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Carmelo Rojas-Perez. As an illegal alien, Rojas-Perez is expected to face deportation proceedings following his release from prison.
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