Panhandle Texas man sentenced to 14 years in federal prison on methamphetamine distribution conviction

AMARILLO, Texas — A man from the Texas Panhandle was sentenced Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Sidney A. Fitzwater to 14 years in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine.

This sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney John Parker for the Northern District of Texas.  This case was investigated by the following agencies:  Texas Department of Public Safety, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Drug Enforcement Administration, Amarillo Police Department, and the Texas sheriffs’ offices of Potter and Randall counties.

Juan Daniel Mares, 40, of Amarillo, pleaded guilty in January 2017 to one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.  He has been in custody since his arrest Sept. 13, 2016.

According to documents filed in the case, on Sept. 10, 2015, Mares agreed to meet with an undercover agent with the Texas Department of Public Safety at a Walmart store in Canton, Texas, to sell him one pound of methamphetamine.

After the undercover agent arrived at the Walmart parking lot, Mares entered the agent’s vehicle and gave the agent a shoebox containing 446 grams (15.7 ounces) of methamphetamine.  The agent in turn gave Mares $6,100.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Frausto and Sean Taylor, Northern District of Texas, prosecuted this case.