In El Paso, a husband and wife were sentenced to 188 months and 24 months in federal prison, respectively, for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute approximately four kilograms of cocaine announced United States Attorney Richard Durbin, Jr.; Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Will Glaspy, El Paso Division; Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Waldemar Rodriguez, El Paso; and, U.S. Customs and Border Protection El Paso Port Director Beverly Good.
Yesterday afternoon, United States District Judge Philip Martinez sentenced 52-year-old Manuel Bayona-Montes to 188 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release. On March 30, 2016, Judge Martinez sentenced Bayona’s wife, 52-year-old Ruth Bayona-Gandara, to 24 months in federal prison followed by two years of supervised release. Both defendants had previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine.
According to court records, on August 12, 2015, U.S. Customs and Border Protection authorities apprehended the defendants at the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry after discovering approximately four kilograms of cocaine concealed within their vehicle.
This joint investigation was conducted by DEA, HSI, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation together with High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) task force officers from the El Paso Police Department, El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, Anthony (TX) Police Department and the U.S. Border Patrol.