On January 20, 2017, jurors convicted Pineda-Orozco of one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of conspiracy to import methamphetamine. Prior to trial, Pineda- Orozco’s co-defendants, 21-year-old Marcelo Guzman and 22–year-old Cyndy Palma, both of Houston, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Testimony during trial revealed that the defendant orchestrated a statewide methamphetamine importation and distribution scheme, with prior deliveries to Houston and Dallas. On December 18, 2015, Customs and Border Protection officers at the Eagle Pass Port of Entry discovered 15 plastic bottles containing liquid methamphetamine inside a vehicle being driven by Guzman and Palma. Guzman told officers that he was supposed to deliver the methamphetamine to an individual in Houston. HSI agents executed a controlled delivery of the methamphetamine. Upon arriving at the meeting location, authorities discovered Pineda-Orozco waiting for them. After the agents identified themselves, Pineda-Orozco got back into his vehicle and fled the scene narrowly missing an HSI agent in the process. Pineda-Orozco led authorities on a high-speed chase through residential neighborhoods. The pursuit continued until spike strips disabled his vehicle. No one was injured as a result of the pursuit. Pineda-Orozco was arrested.
Pineda-Orozco has remained in custody since his arrest. Guzman and Palma also remain in federal custody. On July 10, 2017, Judge Moses sentenced Guzman to 144 months in federal prison following by five years of supervised release. On June 5, 2017, Judge Moses sentenced Palma to 168 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release and ordered that Palma pay a $1,500 fine.
“The heavy sentenced imposed on Orozco sends a clear message that there are serious consequences for trafficking in narcotics,” said Special Agent in Charge Shane Folden, HSI San Antonio. “HSI will continue to work closely with its law enforcement partners to bring narcotic traffickers to justice.”
The investigation was conducted by HSI together with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Houston Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Paul Harle and Amy
Hail prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
