HOUSTON – A Mexican citizen is facing 30 years in federal prison for running a meth trafficking ring in Houston, according to the Department of Justice.
U.S. District Judge David Hittner sentenced Custodio Carrasco-Garcia, also known as Ariel, on Wednesday for his involvement in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a large amount of meth. He pleaded guilty on Feb. 21.
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Since he was illegally residing in Houston, Carrasco-Garcia is expected to face removal proceedings following the sentence, according to U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick of the Southern District of Texas.
Investigators revealed at the hearing that Carrasco-Garcia was the head of a drug trafficking organization with providers in Mexico and participated in operating a stash house. He possessed 30,000 kilograms of narcotics, including meth and cocaine.
In March 2018, authorities conducted an undercover sting to purchase meth from a suspected narcotics distributor, later identified as Carrasco-Garcia.
A month later, officials said he conducted another drug transaction, involving a kilogram of crystal meth. He made $53,000 in the exchange.
Officials noted that they observed Carrasco-Garcia make at least one other drug exchange, before conducting another undercover operation in May 2019. In this transaction, Carrasco-Garcia sold 155.9 kilograms of crystal meth.
Shortly after the operation, he was arrested, at which time he again was in possession of illegal substances, investigators said. Officials said Carrasco-Garcia had two previous drug convictions and was on parole when he committed this offense.
Carrasco-Garcia has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future, according to the DOJ. The Drug Enforcement Administration, Houston Police Department and Harris County Sherriff’s Office conducted the investigation.