Houston Man Sentenced to 8 Years for Role in Liquid Meth Trafficking Conspiracy

A 59-year-old Mexican citizen residing in Houston, Abiel Gudino-Garcia, has been sentenced to 96 months in federal prison for his involvement in a conspiracy to possess and distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Gudino pleaded guilty to the charges on August 26. At the sentencing hearing, the court was informed that Gudino initially claimed to be purchasing diesel but eventually acknowledged the drug deal when confronted with evidence.

In April 2018, Gudino arranged to meet with drug traffickers in Houston to obtain a shipment of 80 gallons of liquid meth. However, he was unaware that authorities had intercepted and seized the shipment in the Rio Grande Valley. Gudino arrived at the meeting location with empty gasoline tanks and $15,000 for the purchase. An undercover law enforcement officer posing as a trafficker handed Gudino what he believed was the methamphetamine.

Authorities followed Gudino to his home after the exchange and detained him as part of an ongoing investigation. He was taken into custody following his sentencing and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility.

The investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura Garcia and Cahal P. McColgan.