High School Senior Charged with Recruiting Other Juveniles to Smuggle Methamphetamine and Fentanyl from Mexico

Assistant U. S. Attorney Sherri Walker Hobson (619) 961-0287

NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – May 7, 2018

SAN DIEGO – Phillip Junior Web, a high school senior at Castle Park High School, was charged in federal court today with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and bringing in unlawful aliens, including a Mexican national and Chinese national, for financial gain.  He was arraigned this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Bernard G. Skomal.

According to the court documents, the defendant was a high school senior who recruited other high school students to smuggle methamphetamine and fentanyl into the United States on multiple occasions, including on  July 1, 2017 (juvenile attempted to smuggle methamphetamine), September 19, 2017 (two juveniles attempted to smuggle methamphetamine), September 27, 2017 (juvenile attempted to smuggle methamphetamine), and October 23, 2017 (juvenile attempted to smuggle fentanyl).  On each of these occasions, the juveniles had drugs strapped on their bodies as they attempted to enter the United States at the San Ysidro or Otay Mesa Ports of Entry.

Last Friday, defendant Webb was caught attempting to bring in a Chinese national and Mexican national into the United States in the trunk of his vehicle. The defendant’s next court appearance is on May 10, 2018 for a detention hearing and May 21, 2018 for a preliminary examination before Judge Skomal. 

In an unrelated criminal complaint, defendant Alejandro Barba was charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. According to the complaint, agents saw a juvenile briefly enter Barba’s parked vehicle at the San Ysidro High School parking lot, remove items from his backpack, and then exit Barba’s vehicle.  Barba, the sole occupant and driver, was stopped and agents found five kilograms of methamphetamine in his back seat. According to the complaint, the unnamed juvenile had smuggled the methamphetamine through the border earlier that day.  Barba will appear for his initial appearance later this week.

“We are seeing a very troubling trend and we want to warn parents and high schoolers,” said U.S. Attorney Adam L. Braverman. “Our youth are being recruited by drug cartels to smuggle dangerous drugs across the border. We are going after the recruiters who exploit these kids, but the kids also need to know that they are gambling with their lives when they do this. Don’t throw away your future.”

DEFENDANT                                    Case No. 18MJ2229

Phillip Junior Webb                            Age: 18           Tijuana, Mexico

CHARGES

Count 1 –       Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine  (21 U.S.C. 841 & 846)

                        Maximum Penalty: Ten years minimum to life in custody; $1 million fine

Count 2 -        Bringing in Undocumented Aliens for Financial Gain (8 U.S.C. 1324)

                        Maximum Penalty: Three years mandatory minimum to 20 years in custody; $250,000 fine

DEFENDANT                                    Case No. 18MJ2147

Alejandro Barba                                 Age: 27           San Diego, California

CHARGES

Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine (21 U.S.C. 841 & 846)

Maximum Penalty: Ten years minimum to life in custody; $1 million fine 

AGENCIES

Homeland Security Investigations

Drug Enforcement Administration

Customs & Border Protection

San Diego County Sheriff’s Department

*The charges and allegations contained in a complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are no considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.