Working with Mexican drug trafficker lands McAllen man back in jail

MCALLEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A McAllen man has been sentenced for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Raul Mendiola-Flores, 43 pleaded guilty on Feb. 22.

U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton ordered Mendiola-Flores to serve 12 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release.

At Mendiola-Flores's hearing, the court heard about his nine prior criminal convictions including a felony possession with intent to deliver cocaine in which he previously served five years in prison

Law enforcement determined he was in direct communication with Mexican drug traffickers to coordinate the importation of methamphetamine, according to the news release.

Jorge Lopez, 19, imported one kilogram of meth from Mexico into the United States in May 2023 through the Hidalgo Port of Entry. The Mexican drug trafficking organization communicated with him to facilitate pick-up and delivery further north.

Mendiola-Flores then arranged a meeting at a local convenience store parking lot in McAllen to receive the drugs.

Lopez, a U.S. citizen residing in Reynosa, Mexico, previously pleaded guilty and remains in custody pending his sentencing. He faces up to life in federal prison and a possible $10 million maximum fine.  

Mendiola-Flores will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility.