Former Mexican official sentenced to 5 years in prison for smuggling drugs

McALLEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A former Mexican official who crossed the border with nearly 55 pounds of cocaine was sentenced to five years in prison on Thursday.

Jesus Fernando Serrano Lauretta — a former official from the Mexican state of Morelos — drove across Falcon Dam in September 2024.

During a search, U.S. Customs and Border Protection discovered nearly 55 pounds of cocaine hidden in his car.

“I am ashamed,” Serrano wrote in a statement. “I am so sorry.”

Officers stopped Serrano at 12:37 p.m. on Sept. 16, when he crossed the border at Falcon Dam.

The sleepy border crossing, which is located about 15 miles west of Roma, links Starr County with Nueva Ciudad Guerrero.

Serrano showed up in a white MG5 sedan with Mexican license plates from the state of Morelos.

Officers asked Serrano about his trip.

Serrano said he planned to visit a friend in Austin and go shopping in San Marcos, according to the criminal complaint against him. Serrano said he planned to stay in San Marcos for a week but hadn’t made any hotel reservations.

Officers sent Serrano to secondary inspection, where they searched the sedan.

A tracking device with a “microphone wire” had been hidden below the steering compartment, according to the criminal complaint. Officers also noticed the rear seat appeared heavy.

They grabbed a drill and punctured the seat, which revealed a “white powdery substance,” according to the criminal complaint.

Officers found 14 packages in the rear seat, four packages in the driver’s seat and four packages in the passenger seat. All 22 packages tested positive for cocaine.

Serrano declined to answer any questions about the drugs.

Customs and Border Protection contacted Homeland Security Investigations, which is part of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

HSI discovered the white MG5 sedan had crossed the border at Falcon Dam five times with three different license plates.

On Sept. 10, just six days before Serrano crossed the border, his brother had driven the sedan across Falcon Dam, according to the criminal complaint. During that trip, the sedan had license plates from the Mexican state of Nuevo Leon.

HSI also obtained a search warrant for Serrano’s phones, which showed that Serrano made a series of calls to an “unidentified subject” before he crossed the border.

A federal grand jury indicted Serrano on drug trafficking charges.

Attorney Daniel J. Garcia of Rio Grande City, who represented Serrano, said his client worked for the state government in Morelos. After he retired, Serrano started buying clothing in the United States and selling the clothing in Mexico.

Serrano earned two master’s degrees, Garcia said, and is very well educated.

At some point, someone approached Serrano about smuggling drugs.

“He felt that, when he was approached to get involved in this incident, that he was sort of pressured,” Garcia said. “That he couldn’t say ‘no’ to what he was being asked to do.”

Serrano pleaded guilty in December 2024.

He returned to court Thursday morning wearing gray sweatpants and a gray shirt.

Serrano had prepared a lengthy statement, which a translator read aloud in court.

“I agree that what I did was wrong,” Serrano said in the statement, adding that he would not pretend to be a victim.

Serrano apologized to God, the United States and his family, saying he was crushed by the weight of his remorse.

“I, myself, am deeply sorry for the pain and sorrow I have brought upon my loved ones,” Serrano said.

In jail, Serrano said he studied the Bible and read 21 books. He also lost 38 pounds.

“This has been a very difficult lesson,” Serrano said. “But I’ve learned it.”