Two sentenced for smuggling drugs at U.S.-Mexico border

ALTON, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Two men have been sentenced for their respective roles in a drug smuggling case, U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani announced.

Both Argelio Chavero, 51, of Alton, and Agustin Romero Jr., 41, a U.S. citizen residing in Mexico, pleaded guilty on April 24, 2023, and Dec. 19, 2022, respectively.

A judge has ordered Chavero to serve 15 years in federal prison. Romero received over four years.

Both must also serve five and three years of supervised release, respectively, following their sentences.

At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence of Chavero’s criminal history which includes a prior attempt to smuggle 30 pounds of marijuana in the spare tire and gas tank of a car. He was stopped at the Falfurrias Border Patrol checkpoint for this incident.

On April 24, 2021, Romero drove to the Hidalgo Port of Entry attempting to enter the United States from Mexico. An X-ray inspection of the vehicle revealed eight pounds of marijuana and 26 pounds of meth concealed within 33 packages inside the gas tank.

The release states Chavero recruited Romero and provided him with a vehicle at the Mexican entrance to the Port of Entry.

While Chavero initially denied knowledge of Romero and the vehicle, authorities confronted Chavero with photographs of him driving the vehicle with Romero as passenger.

Both will remain in custody pending a transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.