Drug offender sentenced in federal court

SMITH COUNTY – On November 18, 2020, two Smith County Deputies were working drug interdiction at the Greyhound Bus Station located at 16243 US Hwy 271 North at Interstate 20. While checking the bus, they located a “suspicious blue backpack” at the back of the bus, and no one would claim it. Subsequently, the Deputies located over $4,000 in cash and approximately 4.5 pounds of methamphetamine within the unclaimed blue bag.

They contacted a suspect who was standing near the entrance of the bus who identified himself with a fictitious name and date of birth. Shortly thereafter, an agent with the Department of Homeland Security arrived and fingerprinted the individual. He was positively identified as Alexandro Lamar Mata – 30 out of Laredo, Texas. A check of Mata revealed two warrants out of Webb County Texas for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon. Mata was incarcerated in the Smith County Jail on the listed charges.

The blue backpack containing the methamphetamine and cash was seized by Smith County Deputies and tagged as evidence. The drug case was initially investigated by Smith County Narcotics Investigators before being turned over to Homeland Security. This case was presented to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Tyler and indictments were issued on Mata. Several months ago, Mata was contacted at a border checkpoint and was arrested for the Federal Indictments. On October 2, 2025, Mata was sentenced to 100 months in Federal prison for this drug offense.