Illegal alien from south Texas sentenced for importing meth, heroin

LAREDO, Texas — A Mexican national was sentenced Wednesday to ten years in federal prison after being convicted of possessing with intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson, Southern District of Texas.

The sentence resulted from an investigation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with the assistance of U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP).

Sergio Cobaruvias-Romero, 55, of Mexico was sentenced Feb. 18 by Senior District Judge George Kazen to 120 months in federal prison. As an illegal alien, Cobaruvias-Romero is expected to face deportation proceedings following his release from prison. He pleaded guilty to the charges April 14, 2014.

According to court documents, on or about Jan. 18, Cobaruvias-Romero entered the United States from Mexico via the Laredo Port of Entry Bridge #2 in Laredo, Texas. As Cobaruvias entered the primary inspection lane, CBP discovered anomalies within the tire of the 2002 Ford Ranger pickup van he was driving.

CBP conducted further examination and extracted 20 bundles of methamphetamine weighing 20.88 kilograms (46 pounds) in addition to four bundles of heroin weighing 5.9 kilograms (13 pounds).

Cobaruvias-Romero admitted to trafficking these drugs from Mexico and planning to deliver them to Conroe, Texas. He further admitted to trafficking drugs on prior occasions, for which he received $3,000 on each occasion.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sanjeev Bhasker, Southern District of Texas, prosecuted this case.