South Texas man sentenced to nearly 7 years in prison for cocaine conviction

BROWNSVILLE, Texas — A Texas man was sentenced to six years and nine months in federal prison on Tuesday for possession with intent to distribute about 36 kilograms (79 pounds) of cocaine. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson, Southern District of Texas. The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Victor Manuel Trevino, 36, a Brownsville resident who had been residing in Monterrey, Mexico, appeared before U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen on Nov. 8. Judge Hanen sentenced Trevino to 81 months in federal prison for the drug conviction.

According to court documents, at the time of his previous guilty plea, Trevino stipulated that on Aug. 14, 2010, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Border Patrol (CBP) agents stopped him at the CBP checkpoint near Falfurrias, in Brooks County, Texas. Trevino appeared nervous so agents referred him and the white tractor trailer he was driving to secondary inspection. At that time, a CBP K-9 alerted to the tractor trailer's rear tires. Thirty bundles of a white powdery substance, which tested positive for cocaine, was discovered in non-factory metal boxes welded to two of the tractor trailer's tires. Trevino admitted to transporting the cocaine, which was to be transported to Houston.

Trevino has been in custody since his arrest. He will remain in custody and serve his sentence at a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be designated in the near future.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Elena Salinas, Southern District of Texas, is prosecuting the case.