McALLEN, Texas — A 42-year-old Illinois resident has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for importing methamphetamine, according to U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Cruz Vargas Jr. pleaded guilty to the charges on March 4, 2023.
Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane ordered Vargas to serve 120 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. The sentencing follows an incident on July 24, 2022, when Vargas attempted to enter the United States from Mexico through the Rio Grande Port of Entry with large containers in his vehicle. Law enforcement referred him for a secondary inspection after he claimed the containers held vitamins.
A narcotics detection K-9 alerted authorities to the vehicle, leading to tests that confirmed the presence of methamphetamine. At the time of his plea, Vargas admitted to transporting drugs, which weighed over 50 kilograms. Vargas will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility, which will be determined in the near future…