Pharr Man Pleads Guilty To Cocaine Smuggling Conspiracy

Tuesday, October 8, 2024, 8:45 A.M. ET. 1 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX.- On Monday, October 7, 2024, Jesus Neftali Padilla, 20, of Pharr, Texas, appeared in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas and pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Cocaine.

Padilla Faces Up To Life In Prison

     Following entering his guilty plea, Judge Ramos accepted Padilla’s guilty plea and scheduled sentencing for January 8, 2025. At that time, Padilla faces up to life in federal prison and a $10 million maximum fine.

     According to U.S. Attorney Alamdar Hamdani and documents filed with the court, Padilla directed truck drivers to travel north from Mexico through Border Patrol checkpoints further into the United States. Padilla admitted to overseeing the drug smuggling events and supplying the cocaine. He further admitted to placing modified cocaine-filled batteries in hidden compartments to attempt to avoid detection.

     During one incident that occurred on January 27, 2023, at the Sarita Border Patrol checkpoint, federal Border Patrol agents discovered approximately four kilograms of cocaine hidden in the vehicle’s battery compartment.

     Around two months later, a truck approached the same checkpoint, at which time Border Patrol agents again found four kilograms of cocaine hidden in the same manner inside a truck. 

     During his allocution, Padilla admitted that the cocaine bundles were to be delivered to various locations, including San Antonio and Houston, Texas, and admitted that he coordinated both events that took place at the Sarita Port of Entry checkpoint.