United States of America v. Bonifacio Turrubiates and Dionicio Sanchez

Laredo, Texas criminal law lawyer represented Defendant charged with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 34.5 kilograms of liquid meth associated with the Cartel Del Noreste (CDN).



On April 28, 2020, authorities conducted a seizure on a vehicle in the parking lot of an HEB grocery store located in Laredo. There, they discovered kilograms of liquid meth hidden inside multiple fire extinguishers. The investigation revealed the meth belonged to an organization affiliated with the CDN.



Bonifacio Turrubiates, age 48, from Laredo, and Dionicio Sanchez, age 46, from Houston, admitted to conspiring to hide the meth inside fire extinguishers and transporting them outside of Texas by driving the drugs north of Laredo.



The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Operation Noreste with the assistance of Webb County Sheriff's Office. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, mutlti-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice's OCDETF webpage.



Assistant U.S. Attorney Francisco J. Rodriguez prosecuted the case.



Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine or 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. PENALTY: 10 years to life of imprisonment and/or not more than a $10,000,000 fine; 100 CVF; at least 5 years up to a life TSR

(1)

Defendant was 188 mos. to serve, followed by 5 yrs. SRT, comply with all Applicable, Standard and Mandatory conditions of Supervision (waived reading), $100 s/a imposed; no restitution; no fine; (RDAP) Comprehensive 500 hrs. drug treatment program at BOP, submit to substance abuse treatment, testing, and abstinence condition, followed by outpatient drug/alcohol treatment to include an evaluation, if needed up to 3 testing and 3 counseling sessions per month; waived appeal