North Texas man sentenced to 11 years in federal prison for methamphetamine trafficking
SAN ANTONIO — A North Texas man was sentenced Monday to 11 years in federal prison for trafficking about 10 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine.
This sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson, Southern District of Texas. This investigation was led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with the assistance of U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Border Patrol.
Wilburn Harmon Jr., 45, from Springtown, Texas, was sentenced Aug. 29 to 132 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo. In addition to the prison term, Judge Marmolejo ordered Harmon to serve five years of supervised release after he completes his prison term.
“While some may mistakenly view smuggling and trafficking in narcotics as a path to a quick profit, the sentencing of Raymond Villarreal demonstrates that serious consequences await those who engage in this criminal activity,” said Special Agent in Charge Shane Folden, HSI San Antonio. “HSI will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to bring narcotics traffickers to justice, even those in a position of public trust.”
According to court documents, Harmon was arrested July 12, 2014, at the CBP checkpoint just north of Laredo after his pickup truck was found with 9.856 kilograms (21.7 pounds) of crystal methamphetamine within its driveshaft.
Harmon told authorities he had been hired and was to be paid $400 by someone he knows as a methamphetamine dealer in his hometown of Springtown. He was supposed to travel to Laredo in a van, leave it there and return with the truck. He drove to Laredo, staying awake by injecting himself with methamphetamine. He then picked up the truck from someone who had just driven it into the United States from Mexico a few hours prior.
He began his drive back, but was detained at the checkpoint after authorities discovered the narcotics. Special agents also found a bridge crossing receipt which confirmed the truck’s travel from Mexico.
Harmon 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 Jose Homero Ramirez, Southern District of Texas, prosecuted this case.
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