Illegal Aliens Sentenced on Drug Charges
Posted/updated on: December 3, 2010 at 4:56 pm
TYLER – Officials say two Mexican nationals residing illegally in Tyler were sentenced to federal prison Thursday for drug violations in the Eastern District of Texas. Jose Francisco Moreno, 23, pleaded guilty on June 2, 2010, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine and was sentenced to 87 months in prison. Armando Velazquez-Castro, 24, pleaded guilty on July 14, 2010, to the same charge and was sentenced to 120 months behind bars. Each man was also ordered to submit to a forfeiture judgment in the amount of $10,000.
According to information presented in court, on Nov. 2, 2009, Moreno and Velazquez-Castro were arrested and found to be possession of 4 ounces of methamphetamine, which they intended to sell to others in the Tyler area. Further investigation revealed that the men were involved in a conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of actual methamphetamine. Moreno and Velazquez-Castro were indicted by a federal grand jury on Jan. 6, 2010 and charged with federal drug trafficking violations. It was also determined that the defendants are illegally in the United States. They will both be deported to Mexico after completing their prison sentences.
