West Texas man sentenced to nearly 22 years in federal prison for methamphetamine trafficking

ABILENE, Texas — A man from Abilene was sentenced Thursday to 262 months in federal prison for methamphetamine trafficking.

U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas announced this sentence.

According to documents filed in the case, on Nov. 14, 2015, special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the FBI, along with investigators with the Taylor County (Texas) Sheriff’s Office, received information that Pascual Jamie Avalos, 34, would be transporting an unknown quantity of methamphetamine from the Dallas-Fort Worth area to Abilene, Texas, in a gray 2015 Toyota Avalon.

On Nov. 14, 2015, a Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Trooper working in Eastland County, Texas, observed that vehicle driving over the speed limit westbound on Interstate 20.  The DPS Trooper stopped the vehicle and identified the driver as Avalos.  An adult female and an infant child were passengers in the vehicle.  Avalos was found to be operating the vehicle while his license was suspended, and he was taken into custody.

A K-9 gave a positive alert to narcotics in the vehicle.  It was searched, and about four pounds of methamphetamine, 82.5 percent pure, was discovered.  Avalos admitted that he had picked up the methamphetamine and was going to deliver it to a person in Abilene.  He pleaded guilty in April to an indictment charging one count of possession with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.

ICE HSI, FBI, Texas DPS and the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office investigated.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Juanita Fielden prosecuted this case.