Drug trafficker sentenced to nearly 6 years in federal prison

HARLINGEN, Texas - A convicted drug trafficker was sentenced on Monday to six years and 10 months on federal prison, following an investigation led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Antonio Medina, 38, was indicted Oct. 12 by a federal jury on two counts for knowingly and intentionally conspiring to possess with intent to distribute more than 50 kilograms (110 pounds) of marijuana.

On Sept. 20, ICE HSI along with U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) Border Patrol Fort Brown Station in Brownsville, Texas, approached a home located at the 2300 block of West Military Highway where agents conducted a consent search of the home. During the search, agents discovered and seized 216 pounds of marijuana in 98 small packages. Medina and two other suspects were arrested at the home without incident.

Medina pleaded guilty to two counts of the original two-count indictment on Nov. 30.

The investigation was conducted by ICE with the assistance by U.S. Border Patrol Fort Brown Brownsville station.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Hagen, Southern District of Texas, prosecuted this case.