Texas Panhandle man sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for selling methamphetamine

AMARILLO, Texas — A man from the Texas Panhandle was sentenced this week by U.S. District Judge Mary Lou Robinson to 10 years in federal prison for selling methamphetamine.

This sentence was announced by Acting U.S. Attorney John Parker, Northern District of Texas.  The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) investigated this case.

Hugo Gomez-Barrientos, 46, most recently of Hereford, Texas, pleaded guilty in November 2014 to an indictment charging one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.  He has been in custody since his Sept. 25 arrest at his residence after the indictment was returned.

According to documents filed in the case, on May 7, 2013, Gomez-Barrientos agreed to meet with an undercover DEA Task Force Officer (TFO) at a convenience store in Hereford.  He agreed to sell to the TFO a quarter pound of methamphetamine for $3,750, and also “front” him an additional quarter pound to be paid for later.  Gomez-Barrientos changed the meeting place from the convenience store to a cattle truck wash.

After the undercover TFO arrived at the cattle truck wash, Gomez-Barrientos walked up to his vehicle and the sale took place.  The undercover TFO advised he would pay him the balance owed for the additional quarter pound of methamphetamine on the next buy.

A month later, on June 5, 2013, the undercover TFO called Gomez-Barrientos to discuss the remaining balance he owned.  They agreed to meet at Gomez-Barrientos’s ranch.  The undercover TFO advised that the prior amount of methamphetamine was short of the quarter pound.  The TFO and Gomez-Barrientos agreed that the TFO would pay $3,000 for it.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Frausto, Northern District of Texas, prosecuted this case.