A Mexican national has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for her involvement in a drug smuggling operation, as announced by U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Carmen Julia Carreon Segovia, aged 49, pleaded guilty on June 12, 2024, to conspiring to import nearly six kilograms of cocaine from Mexico into the United States.
U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal handed down the sentence and noted that Carreon Segovia is not a U.S. citizen, which means she is likely to face removal proceedings after serving her prison term.
Hamdani highlighted the severity of the crime: "Even more insidious than smuggling a dangerous and highly addictive drug into the United States is bringing along your own minor child, exposing her needlessly to a dangerous underworld.” He added that Segovia will have time in prison to reflect on how her actions endangered her teenage daughter.
The incident occurred on January 19, 2024, when Carreon Segovia drove an SUV with her 16-year-old daughter across the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge in Laredo. Upon inspection by authorities, eight bundles containing approximately 6.30 kilograms of cocaine were discovered hidden in the vehicle's front fender areas. The street value of the drugs was estimated at $90,000.
Initially denying knowledge of the drugs, Carreon Segovia later admitted awareness that co-conspirators had concealed them within the vehicle for smuggling purposes. Following her arrest, her non-immigrant visa was revoked.
Carreon Segovia remains in custody while awaiting transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility yet to be determined.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jose Homero Ramirez prosecuted the case.