Harrison County Men Sentenced for Drug Trafficking Violations
| U.S. Attorney’s Office September 25, 2013 |
MARSHALL, TX—Three Marshall, Texas men have been sentenced to federal prison by U.S. District Judge Rodney Gilstrap for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
Santiago Carbajal Abelardo, 26, pleaded guilty on May 3, 2013, to possession with intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine and was sentenced to 90 months in federal prison on September 24, 2013.
Jehovani Abelardo, 21, pleaded guilty on May 3, 2013, to possession with intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine and was sentenced to 90 months in federal prison on September 24, 2013.
Santos Acuna, 24, pleaded guilty on May 3, 2013, to possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine and was sentenced to 11 months in federal prison on September 24, 2013.
According to information presented in court, from November 2009 to October 2012, the defendants conspired to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine and cocaine in East Texas. Santiago Abelardo admitted to distributing over 35 grams of methamphetamine and possessing a firearm during the conspiracy. Jehovani Abelardo admitted to assisting in the distribution of over 20 grams of methamphetamine, as well as attempting to bribe a police officer during the conspiracy. Acuna admitted to distributing over 50 grams of cocaine during the conspiracy. A federal grand jury returned an indictment on November 7, 2012, charging these defendants and two others 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.