McALLEN, Texas - Eusevio Mendoza, 28, of Brownsville, Texas, has been sentenced to more than 15 years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute in excess of 100 kilograms of marijuana, United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced today. Mendoza pleaded guilty to the charge July 1, 2011. 

Today, U.S. District Judge Randy Crane handed Mendoza a sentence of 188 months and further ordered he serve five years of supervised release following completion of that prison term.

Mendoza admitted he was hired on April 23, 2011, to drive a vehicle knowing it was loaded with approximately 290 kilograms of marijuana from the Weslaco, Texas, area for further distribution. Mendoza caught the attention of U.S. Border Patrol (BP) after he nearly collided head on with an agent on routine patrol. They observed him driving north from the Rio Grande River area near Weslaco, at which time agents then followed him due to his erratic driving and observed apparent narcotic bundles in the truck bed. Mendoza attempted to flee in the vehicle and on foot, both unsuccessfully. 

Mendoza has been in custody where he will remain pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Border Patrol. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jason C. Honeycutt.