HSI, federal partner investigation results in Texas woman sent to prison for smuggling cocaine
LAREDO, Texas – A south Texas woman was sentenced to more than four years in prison for importing 17 kilograms of cocaine, following an investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with the assistance of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Alessandra Olivares, 28, from San Antonio, was sentenced to serve 51 months in prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. Olivares pleaded guilty Aug. 18, 2021.
“The sentence imposed on Olivares sends a clear message that there are serious consequences to trafficking controlled substances,” said Craig Larrabee, acting special agent in charge of HSI San Antonio. “HSI along with our law enforcement partners, will continue to seek out and bring to justice those involved in the illicit drug trade."
According to court documents, on May 20, Olivares attempted to enter the United States at the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge in Laredo. Soon after, a K-9 alerted to her sport utility vehicle. Law enforcement conducted an X-ray inspection of the vehicle and discovered anomalies. Upon further investigation, authorities discovered a compartment containing 15 bundles of cocaine weighing 16.84 kilograms. The drugs had an estimated street value of approximately $400,000.
Olivares will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined soon. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Fawcett, Southern District of Texas, prosecuted the case.
HSI is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel, and finance move. HSI’s workforce of over 10,400 employees consists of more than 6,800 special agents assigned to 225 cities throughout the United States, and 86 overseas locations in 55 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’s largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.
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