Mexican National Sentenced for Trafficking Methamphetamine in East Texas

MARSHALL, TX—A 45-year-old Mexican national illegally residing in Marshall, Texas was sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.

Melicio Nunez-Duque, also known as La Burra, of Coyuca de Catalan, Guerrero, Mexico, pleaded guilty on January 30, 2013 to possession with intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine and was sentenced to 108 months in federal prison on February 18, 2014 by U.S. District Judge Rodney Gilstrap. Nunez-Duque was also ordered to pay a money judgment in the amount of $20,000 to the United States as part of his sentence.

According to information presented in court, from July 2011 to October 2012, Nunez-Duque conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine in and around Marshall, Texas. Nunez-Duque admitted to distributing 15 grams of methamphetamine on July 27, 2011 and another 14 grams on October 27, 2011 in Marshall, Texas. He also admitted to directing others to distribute methamphetamine on August 4, 2011 and August 24, 2011. He admitted the value of the methamphetamine distributed was at least $20,000. A federal grand jury returned an indictment on October 3, 2012 charging Nunez-Duque and co-defendants Julia Flores Saucedo and Oscar Diaz-Mendoz with federal drug trafficking violations.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Marshall Police Department, and the Harrison County District Attorney’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Allen Hurst.