South Texas man sentenced to nearly 6 years in federal prison for importing cocaine from Mexico

LAREDO, Texas — A Mexican national was sentenced to nearly six years in federal prison Tuesday for conspiracy, importation and possession with the intent to distribute cocaine.

This sentence was announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson, Southern District of Texas. This investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with the assistance of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Border Patrol.

Ruben Judas Ruiz-Vazquez, 42, a U.S. permanent resident from Mexico, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo to 70 months in federal prison. As a convicted criminal alien, Ruiz-Vasquez is also expected to face deportation proceedings.  He pleaded guilty to the charges Oct. 21.

According to court documents, on July 28, Ruiz-Vazquez attempted to enter the United States from Mexico by crossing the Lincoln Juarez International Bridge in Laredo. When he drove to the inspection lane, a CBP drug canine was alerted to his 2007 Jeep Compass vehicle. CBP agents X-rayed his vehicle and discovered 18 bundles of cocaine weighing 18.24 kilograms (40 pounds) within the vehicle’s undercarriage. HSI special agents were notified to further investigate the case.

Initially, Ruiz-Vazquez denied knowing anything about the drugs, and claimed he was traveling in a work vehicle.  However, an HSI special agent contacted his employer in Wisconsin who indicated he did not have permission to travel into the United States for work.

Ruiz-Vazquez later wrote a letter of apology to his former employers from jail.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sanjeev Bhasker, Southern District of Texas, prosecuted this case.