Texas man sentenced to 7 years in prison for marijuana smuggling

DEL RIO, Texas – A south Texas man was sentenced to seven years and two months in federal prison on Tuesday for possession with intent to distribute 306 kilograms (673 pounds) of marijuana. The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

On Nov. 29, George Christopher Giron, 23, a Del Rio resident, appeared before U.S. District Judge Alia Moses, who sentenced Giron to 87 months in federal prison. In addition to the prison sentence, the judge ordered him to serve five years of supervised release and pay $1,500, plus pay a $100 special-assessment fee.

According to court documents, on Feb. 9, Giron was in the Del Rio area when authorities initiated a traffic stop. During a routine search of the perimeter and his vehicle agents discovered the bundles of marijuana hidden in his vehicle. A total of 673 pounds of marijuana was seized valued at $538,000. Giron pleaded guilty on April 27 to the drug charges.

Giron has been in custody since his arrest. He will remain in custody and serve his sentence at a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be designated in the near future.