Illegal Alien Sentenced for Drug Trafficking Violations in Harrison County
| U.S. Attorney’s Office February 19, 2014 |
MARSHALL, TX—A 42-year-old Mexican national illegally residing in Marshall, Texas was sentenced to over 18 years in federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
Apolinar Carbajal Abelardo, of Guerrero, Mexico, pleaded guilty on February 18, 2013 to possession with intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine and was sentenced to 225 months in federal prison on February 18, 2014 by U.S. District Judge Rodney Gilstrap. Abelardo also agreed to forfeit a truck, several firearms, $13,650 in U.S. currency, and 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 November 2009 to October 2012, Abelardo conspired with others to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine and cocaine in East Texas. Abelardo admitted to distributing over 50 grams of methamphetamine and possessing a firearm during the conspiracy. A federal grand jury returned an indictment on November 7, 2012 charging Abelardo 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.