United States Drug Enforcement Administration

McALLEN, Texas - Donald Armin Alaniz, of McAllen, has been sentenced to 120 months imprisonment for possessing with intent to distribute approximately 1,780 kilograms of marijuana, announced Drug Enforcement (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Joseph M. Arabit, Houston Division and U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson. Alaniz, 48, pleaded guilty Feb. 28, 2014.

Today, U.S. District Judge Randy Crane imposed the sentence and further ordered he serve a five-year term of supervised release.

At the time of his guilty plea, evidence proved he possessed with intent to distribute approximately 1,780 kilograms of marijuana on Nov. 27, 2013. On that date, Border (BP) stopped Alaniz while he was driving a vehicle pulling a goose neck trailer near Rom. Upon a search, agents discovered approximately 186 bundles of marijuana concealed within the pallets on the trailer.   

Alaniz has been in custody without bond since his arrest in November 2013 where he will remain pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The case was investigated by Drug Enforcement Administration and BP. Assistant U.S. Attorney Linda Requénez prosecuted the case.