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Press Release

Palmhurst man gets lengthy prison sentence for drug and firearm convictions

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Texas

McALLEN, Texas – A 58-year-old Palmhurst resident has been ordered to federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and conspiring to distribute more than 500 grams of meth, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery. 

Roberto Trevino-Mendoza pleaded guilty Oct. 7, 2019.

Today, U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez ordered Trevino-Mendoza to serve a 262-month sentence to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court noted instances of Trevino-Mendoza selling firearms and involvement in the sales of kilogram quantities of meth. Judge Alvarez also referenced his prior convictions of aggravated robbery and burglary.

The investigation revealed Trevino-Mendoza had agreed to sell a kilogram of meth in February 2018. An individual came to his residence and provided $4,000 to in exchange for the drugs.

He later negotiated with that same individual in the purchase a firearm. They again met at Trevino-Mendoza's residence to exchange a Taurus, Model PT-111 Millennium Pro 9mm pistol. Trevino-Mendoza received $500 in return for the weapon.

Trevino-Mendoza was previously convicted of a felony. As such, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition per federal law.  

He has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The FBI lead the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF is the largest anti-crime task force in the country and its mission is to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug trafficking and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States through prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency task forces that leverage the authorities and expertise of federal, state, and local law enforcement.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Wells Jr. prosecuted the case.

Updated March 29, 2021

Topics
Drug Trafficking
Firearms Offenses