Date: 03-03-2016

Case Style: United States of America v. Crystal Yvette Martinez and Tina Marie Trevino

Case Number: 1:14-cr-00443

Judge: Hilda Tagle

Court: United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas (Cameron County)

Plaintiff's Attorney: Ana Cano and Joe Esquivel

Defendant's Attorney: Reynaldo Cisneros for Tina Marie Trevino

Joe Moreno for Crystal Yvette Martinez

Description: Brownsville, TX - Two Women Head to Prison for Distribution of Methamphetamine

Crystal Yvette Martinez, 25, and Tina Marie Trevino, 24, both of Brownsville, have been ordered to federal prison following their convictions related to the distribution of methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson. Martinez was convicted Nov. 19, 2014, following a two-day trial, while Trevino pleaded guilty Nov. 5, 2014.

Today, U.S. District Judge Hilda Tagle ordered Martinez to serve 240 months in federal prison, while Trevino will serve a 75-month-term of imprisonment. Both will also serve five years of supervised release following completion of their sentences.

On or about May 19, 2014, Martinez was a passenger in a black Chevy Tahoe driven by Trevino. The two females presented themselves at the B & M International Port of Entry in Brownsville with a large quantity of Downy fabric softener bottles and Zote soaps. Trevino told officers that the fabric softener and soaps were for a laundromat business she was starting.

The vehicle and occupants were sent to secondary inspection where a canine alerted to the presence of narcotics. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers field tested the contents of the bottles and the soaps which yielded a positive result for the properties of methamphetamine. The total weight of the substances was approximately 115.94 kilograms or 255 pounds.

Trevino admitted she was aware she was bringing an illegal drug into the United States, while Martinez denied that knowledge. However, a CBP officer testified that the two females were seen crossing the same type of merchandise (fabric softener and soaps) the prior evening of May 18, 2014. Trevino admitted that the trip the night before was a dry-run to determine how inspectors at the port of entry would react. Trevino testified at trial that both women were aware they were bringing in drugs and that they both would share in the profits of $5,000 for the trip.

The jury ultimately returned a verdict of guilty against Martinez on all four counts as charged to include conspiring to possess to with the intent to import and distribution of 115 kilograms of methamphetamine.

Both women will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

This charges are the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and CBP.

Outcome: Martinez was sentenced to 240 months in prison and Trevino to 75 months in prison.

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

Comments: