A court sentenced two defendants in a drug smuggling case involving a group of four people, records show.
On Wednesday U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez sentenced Oscar Franco-Lopez and Brandon Ezequiel Chacha-Avila to 140 months and 58 months in prison, respectively, for their roles in a scheme to smuggle methamphetamine, records show.
Franco, 37, and Chacha, 24, both citizens of Mexico, were allegedly involved in a scheme to smuggle drugs from the Rio Grande Valley to other locations from their residence in the Valley, the criminal complaint against the two stated.
On Dec. 18, 2018, federal agents raided a residence in the 500 block of Lovett Street in Edinburg. During their search of the residence, where the two men were living, agents found meth.
“Agents located a crystal-like substance in different areas of the residence,” the complaint stated. “Agents located a white trash bag in the attic, containing eight individual food saver bags containing a crystal-like substance.”
Additionally, during the search of the men’s residence, agents found “two blocks of a crystal-like” substance in the living room, in a bedroom closet and in the kitchen oven.
Agents removed a total of 14.05 kilograms of methamphetamine from the residence, the complaint stated.
After being read their rights, the men admitted to agents they attempted to distribute the meth “for financial gain,” according to the record.
Franco admitted to holding the more than 14 kilos of meth for another person, who was not named in the complaint. Chacha, who also admitted his role in the scheme, said he “did handle the crystal methamphetamine.”
Both men said they were in possession of the controlled substance for roughly a month.
In addition to Franco and Chacha, Yesenia Yvette Armendariz, of Edinburg, and Jeanette Michelle Jimenez were indicted in connection with the scheme in January and June 2019, respectively.
According to the indictment, Armendariz conspired with Franco and Chacha on or about Dec. 21, 2018, to move roughly 14 kilos of meth into the country.
The 32-year-old Armendariz, who pleaded guilty to distribution of a controlled substance in July 2019, remains free on a $50,000 bond.
The 43-year-old Jimenez, of Manvel, Texas, pleaded guilty to a drug conspiracy charge in March 2020 and is scheduled for sentencing this June, records show.
The court did not impose a supervised release term for the two men, who lack legal authority to remain in the country and will likely be deported upon completion of their respective prison terms.
