Houston Man Sentenced in Tyler for Drug Trafficking

TYLER – A 21-year-old Houston man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations in East Texas. Saul Cobarrubias pleaded guilty back in January to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to money launder. He was sentenced to 135 months in federal prison Wednesday in Tyler by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Schneider. Cobarrubias was also ordered to submit to forfeiture of $10,000.

According to federal prosecutors, on March 9, 2011, Cobarrubias travelled from Houston to Tyler with 2 kilograms of cocaine for distribution in the area. Cobarrubias admitted that he possessed between 15 and 50 kilograms of cocaine for distribution in East Texas. Cobarrubias also admitted to assisting in the collection of illegal proceeds from the sale and purchase of cocaine and using bank accounts manage the funds from the drug trafficking and to conceal the nature of the illegal proceeds.