League City Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Possessing Methamphetamine Intended for Distribution

GALVESTON, Texas — A Galveston County jury has convicted a League City man of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to deliver, resulting in a 15-year prison sentence.

Recently, jurors found Cesar Gutierrez Duran Jr. guilty of Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver in an amount greater than 4 grams but less than 200 grams.

According to prosecutors, the case stemmed from an October 2025 arrest by League City Police K-9 Officer Jason Jones, who took Duran into custody on two outstanding felony warrants from Brazoria County.

During a search incident to the arrest, Officer Jones found multiple baggies containing methamphetamine along with drug paraphernalia. Prosecutors said Duran’s girlfriend asked what officers had found, and Duran replied, “work.”

Laboratory testing later confirmed the baggies contained a total of 10.5 grams of methamphetamine packaged for distribution.

At the time of his arrest, Duran was already free on bond in Galveston County for another drug case in which he was accused of possessing approximately 13 grams of methamphetamine.

During the trial, prosecutors Brianna Stark and Quinten McConico presented testimony from Officer Jones, whose body-worn camera captured Duran reaching toward his pockets before his arrest in an apparent attempt to conceal the drugs.

A Texas Department of Public Safety crime laboratory analyst testified that the methamphetamine was packaged into amounts commonly known as “8 balls,” a quantity frequently associated with distribution.

Both Duran and his girlfriend testified that they were heavy methamphetamine users and claimed Duran intended to give some of the drugs to her.

During closing arguments, prosecutors urged jurors to take Duran “at his word,” referring to his statement that the methamphetamine was his “work.”

After approximately two hours of deliberations Tuesday morning, the jury returned a guilty verdict.

Following the conviction, Duran agreed to a 15-year prison sentence. Prosecutors noted he has prior drug-related convictions.

The Galveston County Criminal District Attorney’s Office commended the League City Police Department for its investigation of the case.