South Texas Woman Sentenced for Trafficking over $1M in Crystal Meth and Black Tar Heroin
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 28-year-old Mission woman has been sent to prison following her conviction of possession with the intent to distribute more than 31 kilograms of meth, announced Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux, Houston Division U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Cristina Inez Marquez pleaded guilty April 28, 2022.
Today, U.S. District Judge David S. Morales ordered Marquez to serve 190 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release.
At the time of her plea, Marquez admitted that on Dec. 29, 2021, she drove a gray Ford Explorer northbound on Highway 281 near Alice. She also admitted to knowingly transporting and possessing over 31 kilograms of meth and five kilograms of heroin.
Law enforcement conducted a traffic stop and conducted an inspection. At that time, they discovered the fuel tank had been tampered with and removed. Upon examining the contents, authorities found 12 concealed bundles of what appeared to be crystal meth and black tar heroin. The weight of the bundles exceeded 85 pounds.
Analysis later confirmed the substances in the bundles were in fact crystal meth at 95% purity with a net weight of 31.41 kilograms and black tar heroin with a net weight of 5.95 kilograms. The drugs had an estimated street value of more than $1.3 million.
Marquez will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Marck prosecuted the case.
