Two individuals from Central America have been sentenced for their involvement in drug trafficking activities, as announced by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Sanmy Elieser Gonzalez, aged 35, from Honduras, and Iris Graciela Hernandez-Castaneda, aged 34, from Guatemala, had both entered guilty pleas on August 25, 2022.
U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana sentenced Gonzalez to 60 months in federal prison, while Hernandez-Castaneda received a sentence of 70 months. As they are not U.S. citizens, both are expected to undergo removal proceedings after serving their prison terms.
The investigation revealed that Gonzalez and Hernandez-Castaneda were receiving methamphetamine shipments in the Houston area. These drugs were reportedly smuggled into the United States near Laredo and then distributed further.
The Drug Enforcement Administration led the operation, identified as Operation Siete Pinguinos, under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James Sturgis.
The OCDETF aims to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most significant criminal organizations posing threats to the United States through a coordinated, intelligence-driven approach involving multiple agencies. More details about the OCDETF Program are available on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.