Hidalgo Man Sentenced To Prison For Importing Cocaine From Mexico
Wednesday, September 25, 2024, 8:30 A.M. ET. 1 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,
MCALLEN, TX.- On Tuesday, September 24, 2024, Jesus Andres Tijerina, 45, of Hidalgo, Texas, appeared in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas and was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane to 120 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release for Conspiracy to Import Cocaine from Mexico.
According to U.S. Attorney Alamdar Hamdani, on June 4, 2024, Tijerina appeared before Judge Crane and pleaded guilty to the charge. During yesterday’s sentencing hearing, Judge Crane heard additional evidence as to Tijerina’s role as a supervisor in a narcotics trafficking organization.
According To Documents Filed With The Court
According to documents filed with the court, on January 21, 2020, Tijerina’s co-conspirator, Simon Salazar, arrived in a vehicle from Mexico at the Anzalduas Port of Entry. U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents referred Salazar’s vehicle for a secondary inspection. During the inspection, agents found 13 kilograms of cocaine hidden inside the vehicle wrapped in bundles.
Upon further investigation, agents found that Tijerina was providing detailed instructions for where Salazar should go in Mexico to pick up the cocaine and where to deliver the narcotics once he arrived in the United States.
Salazar, 36, previously pleaded guilty for his role in the conspiracy and was sentenced to 25 months in federal prison.
U.S. Attorney Hamdani commended the Customs and Border Protection agents and Department of Homeland Security Investigations for the investigation, arrests, and convictions of Tijerina and Salazar.
