Mexico native to serve 11 years in federal prison for smuggling cocaine

MCALLEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A Tamaulipas, Mexico native has been sentenced for trafficking cocaine, according to the United States Attorney's Office.

Soto-Bazan was ordered by Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane to serve over 11 years in federal prison and is expected to go through removal proceedings following his sentence.

During the hearing, Soto-Bazan provided additional detailed evidence of how he organized multiple cocaine shipments to be smuggled into the U.S. through the Hidalgo Port of Entry.

"The court noted that Soto-Bazan played a key role in the trafficking scheme," Alamdar S. Hamdani, United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas said. "At the time of his plea, Soto-Bazan admitted he facilitated multiple cocaine shipments into the United States through the Hidalgo port of entry."

Between April and June 2022, Soto-Bazan planned at least four separate shipments of cocaine into the U.S. that weighed 44 pounds, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.

He also designated those who were smuggling the drugs in vehicles to specific locations and would later transfer the drugs to other vehicles for further distribution, the release stated.

Soto-Bazan was responsible for smuggling cocaine that had an estimated street value of $200,000. Additionally, he admitted to being paid to smuggle drugs and assisted in removing the cocaine from hidden compartments that were inside the vehicles.