LAREDO, Texas – Julio Cesar Campos, 29, has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute more than 3.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced today. The drugs were discovered when Campos arrived at the Lincoln-Juarez Bridge in Laredo earlier this year. Campos, of Dallas, pleaded guilty shortly thereafter. 

Today, U.S. District Judge George P. Kazen sentenced Campos to the 240-month prison term which will be followed by a five-year-term of supervised release. At the hearing, it was revealed that Campos, a mixed martial arts fighter, had claimed the purpose of his trip to Nuevo Laredo was to act as an enforcer for the Zeta Cartel that “ruffs up” people. He also previously stated that he transported $1.5 million in bulk cash currency. 

On Jan. 7, 2012, Campos arrived at the Lincoln-Juarez Bridge Port of Entry in Laredo driving a Chevy Impala. Customs and Border Protection officers searched Campos’s luggage as well as that of his passenger. An inspection of the suitcases revealed two bottles of liquor, dark brown in color, which Campos claimed was Tequila. In actuality, these bottles contained liquid methamphetamine and had a net weight of 3.514 kilograms.

When questioned by agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Campos stated he had traveled from Dallas to Nuevo Laredo at the request of a Zeta cartel member. While in Nuevo Laredo, Campos claimed he had been given the opportunity to smuggle drugs into the United States and was later given two bottles of liquid drugs by an unknown male. Campos also said he had done other work for the Zetas, including transporting proceeds in the form of bulk cash.

Campos has been in custody since his arrest and will be assigned to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth R. Rabe prosecuted the case.