Twice-deported Mexican man in East Texas convicted of drug trafficking, immigration violations

TYLER, Texas — A twice-deported Mexican man was found guilty Wednesday of drug trafficking and immigration violations, announced U.S. Attorney Alan R. Jackson, Eastern District of Texas.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Border Patrol.

On Feb. 14, following a three-day jury trial, Conrado Depaz Arellano, 48, illegally residing in Carthage, Texas, was found guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine.  Additionally, on Feb. 12, 2018, Arellano pleaded guilty to being illegally in the United States after having been deported.  

According to information presented in court, on Aug. 2, 2017, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation in the Western District of Texas by U.S. Border Patrol agents. The vehicle contained two kilograms of cocaine, which was intended to be delivered to Arellano in Carthage, Texas.  Federal agents arranged for the cocaine to be delivered to Arellano as planned; they arrested him at that time for drug trafficking crimes.  At the time of his arrest, Arellano possessed two Mexican identification documents.  Further investigation revealed Arellano had been deported to Mexico in 2012 and 2007 and had since illegally re-entered the United States.  Arellano was indicted by a federal grand jury on Sept. 20, 2017.

Under federal statutes, Arellano faces up to 40 years in federal prison at sentencing.  A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the U.S. Probation Office completes a presentence investigation.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Allen Hurst and Jim Noble, Eastern District of Texas.