A Mexican national, Juan Hernandez Alcantar, 66, has been sentenced to 168 months in federal prison for his involvement in smuggling fentanyl into the United States. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani following Alcantar's guilty plea on August 6.
U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo emphasized Alcantar's leadership role in the operation and highlighted the potential deadly consequences of trafficking large quantities of fentanyl. As a non-U.S. citizen, Alcantar is expected to face deportation proceedings after serving his sentence.
In July 2023, Alcantar orchestrated a plan involving drug mules to transport fentanyl and cocaine while residing at his daughter's home and using her vehicle for these activities. The conspiracy involved smuggling 2,194 grams of fentanyl, 1,200 grams of heroin, and 2,100 grams of cocaine.
Authorities intercepted Alcantar as he attempted to be smuggled into San Antonio inside a tractor trailer with other undocumented individuals to bypass a Border Patrol checkpoint north of Laredo.
Alcantar has a history of illegal entry into the United States and previous criminal offenses. The investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations with support from Border Patrol under the South Texas High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Task Force. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Terence A. Check Jr., along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Hakala-Finch, prosecuted the case.