Brownsville repeat criminal gets federal prison time for smuggling cocaine

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 56-year-old man has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of possession with intent to distribute 8.872 kilograms of cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Jose Antonio Garcia Jr. pleaded guilty Feb. 28.

Today, U.S. District Judge David S. Morales ordered Garcia to serve 130 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence regarding Garcia’s lengthy and varied criminal history. Dating back to 1985, he has nine burglary convictions, five thefts, eight drug or alcohol-related crimes and an alien smuggling attempt in 2014.

On Dec. 27, 2021, Garcia drove a white 2012 Freightliner semi-truck into an inspection lane at the Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint located near Falfurrias. During inspection, authorities conducted a search of the vehicle. Law enforcement then referred Garcia to secondary inspection. At that time, they discovered nine bundles in an empty cardboard Huggies diaper box found underneath a sleeper seat inside the truck.

The bundles were later determined to be 8.872 kilograms of cocaine with an estimated street value of $443,600.

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

The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Parker Gochenour prosecuted the case.