Abilene Methamphetamine Trafficker Sentenced to More than 21 Years in Federal Prison

ABILENE, Texas — An Abilene, Texas, man, Pascual Jamie Avalos, 34, has been sentenced to 262 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Reed C. O’Connor, following his guilty plea in April 2016 to an indictment charging one count of possession with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.  U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas made the announcement today. 

According to documents filed in the case, on November 14, 2015, special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), along with investigators with the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, received information that Avalos would be transporting an unknown quantity of methamphetamine from the Dallas-Fort Worth area to Abilene, Texas, in a gray 2015 Toyota Avalon.

On November 14, 2015, a Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Trooper working in Eastland County, Texas, observed that vehicle travelling westbound on Interstate 20 at a speed in excess of the posted speed limit.  The DPS Trooper stopped the vehicle and identified the driver as Avalos.  An adult female and an infant child were passengers in the vehicle.  Avalos was found to be operating the vehicle while his license was suspended, and he was taken into custody.

A K-9 gave a positive alert to the odor of narcotics in the vehicle.  It was searched and approximately four pounds of methamphetamine, with a purity of 82.5% was found.  Avalos admitted he had picked up the methamphetamine and was going to deliver it to a person in Abilene.

ICE HSI, FBI, Texas DPS and the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office investigated.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Juanita Fielden prosecuted the case.

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