Odessa Man Sentenced To More Than 19 Years In Prison For Dealing Cocaine
By: Dylan Brooks
Updated: October 9, 2012
MIDLAND -- An Odessa man has been sentenced to more than 19 years in federal prison for dealing a large amount of cocaine in Odessa.
Jesus Astroga Samaniego was sentenced to 19 years and 7 months in federal prison on October 4th.
Samaniego, 39, will be on supervised released for 5 years after his prison term is finished.
Samaniego will also have to forfeit a 2006 Ford F-150 King Ranch pickup truck and $17,732 in U.S. currency that was seized when he was arrested in October 2011.
Samaniego and 12 others were arrested in October 2011 -- after a Drug Enforcement Agency task force out of Midland and the Ector County Sheriff's Office completed a year-long investigation into cocaine trafficking in the Permian Basin.
Midland Police, Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigation also participated in the investigation.
A federal grand jury indicted 10 people -- including one fugitive who remains at large -- on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine at the end of the investigation.
Authorities also seized about 2.5 kilograms of cocaine and $214,000 cash at the time.
Samaniego -- a Mexican citizen -- pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine on December 16, 2011.
However, at sentencing, U.S. District Judge Robert Junell determined that Samaniego was responsible for trafficking more than 50 kilograms of cocaine.
All 8 other people who were indicted and arrested were sentenced to anywhere from 3 years and 1 month in federal prison to 10 years and one month in prison.
Members of the ring also had to forfeit real and personal property seized during the investigation, including a Pecos home and $178,890 in U.S. currency.
Arlina Gabaldon Castor remains a fugitive from the bust in Mexico.
Jesus Astroga Samaniego was sentenced to 19 years and 7 months in federal prison on October 4th.
Samaniego, 39, will be on supervised released for 5 years after his prison term is finished.
Samaniego will also have to forfeit a 2006 Ford F-150 King Ranch pickup truck and $17,732 in U.S. currency that was seized when he was arrested in October 2011.
Samaniego and 12 others were arrested in October 2011 -- after a Drug Enforcement Agency task force out of Midland and the Ector County Sheriff's Office completed a year-long investigation into cocaine trafficking in the Permian Basin.
Midland Police, Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigation also participated in the investigation.
A federal grand jury indicted 10 people -- including one fugitive who remains at large -- on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine at the end of the investigation.
Authorities also seized about 2.5 kilograms of cocaine and $214,000 cash at the time.
Samaniego -- a Mexican citizen -- pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine on December 16, 2011.
However, at sentencing, U.S. District Judge Robert Junell determined that Samaniego was responsible for trafficking more than 50 kilograms of cocaine.
All 8 other people who were indicted and arrested were sentenced to anywhere from 3 years and 1 month in federal prison to 10 years and one month in prison.
Members of the ring also had to forfeit real and personal property seized during the investigation, including a Pecos home and $178,890 in U.S. currency.
Arlina Gabaldon Castor remains a fugitive from the bust in Mexico.
