Two individuals have entered guilty pleas to the charge of conspiring to import fentanyl, according to U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. The incident involved Taneka Desha Felder, 27, from Amarillo, and Gustavo Morales Aguilar, 40, a naturalized U.S. citizen residing in Dumas. They confessed to traveling to Mexico on December 17, 2024, where their vehicle was loaded with 11.65 kilograms of fentanyl by drug smugglers. The drugs were concealed in a hidden compartment within the car.
Their attempt to re-enter the United States occurred at the Lincoln Juarez International Bridge, where authorities discovered 10 bundles of fentanyl during a secondary inspection. Both individuals admitted purchasing the car specifically for smuggling drugs back into the U.S. They acknowledged their intention was to deliver the vehicle and narcotics to individuals in Dallas in exchange for payment.
Sentencing for Felder and Morales Aguilar will be determined at a later date by U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña. They face potential life sentences in federal prison and a fine that could reach $10 million. Both remain in custody until the hearing.
The investigation was carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from Customs and Border Protection. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jose Homero Ramirez.