A Del Rio man, Leonardo Estrada, age 41, is facing a lengthy stint behind bars, having been sentenced to 24 years in federal prison on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, a judgment passed down by federal authorities.
The tale unfolded on a routine day, February 15, 2023, when Estrada encountered a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint on Highway 277 near Eagle Pass; it was there that a K-9 unit signaled the presence of contraband leading to a search which unearthed two plastic bundles tucked beneath the vehicle's carpet, behind the pedals, the contents of the bundles tested positive for 790 grams of methamphetamine and marijuana according to a statement obtained by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
In a turn of events that sealed his fate, Estrada pled guilty on May 22, 2023, and with this admission of guilt, Estrada's involvement in drug trafficking since 2021 was acknowledged, marking an end to his illicit activities that spanned years.
The case, prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Warsame Galaydh and investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) along with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), came to a close with the announcement made by Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas revealing the stiff penalty Estrada must now face estrangement from freedom due to the choices, he made choices that led him on a road towards his own ruin.
