Federal Judge Sends Raymondville Man to Prison for Meth Distribution

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 21-year-old Raymondville man has been ordered to prison for his conviction of conspiracy to import and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. A federal jury sitting in Brownsville returned its verdicts against Zack Anthony Sayas Oct. 24, 2017, following two days of trial and less than two hours of deliberation.

Today, U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera considered the lack of criminal history and handed Sayas a 144-month sentence to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release.

During trial, the jury heard that Sayas had recruited and conspired with Jose Angel Reyes Jr., 24, also of Raymondville, to travel from Raymondville to Mexico with the intention of smuggling the methamphetamine and transporting it to Houston.

On Dec. 8, 2015, at approximately 6:15 a.m., Reyes attempted to enter the United States via the Veterans Port of Entry as the driver and single occupant of a silver Chevy Aveo. The car was randomly selected for secondary inspection, at which time officers discovered bundles wrapped in tape hidden in each door panel. The substance in the bundles tested positive for crystal methamphetamine and weighed approximately 11.94 kilograms. He was taken into custody at that time.

While detained, agents observed his cell phone receiving continuous messages from the same number. They were also able to obtain an extraction report that included previously deleted text messages from the same sender.

Reyes identified the individual that recruited him to go to Mexico as Sayas. Reyes was to travel to Brownsville where Sayas would take possession of his car and travel to Mexico where the vehicle would be loaded with drugs. Then both Reyes and Sayas would drive the car back to Houston to deliver the drugs. However, there was a slight change of plans and Reyes agreed to drive the car through the port of entry by himself and pick up Sayas on the U.S. side of the border. However, Reyes was intercepted at the Veteran’s Port of Entry.

Evidence showed that the phone number associated to Sayas was the same as the one that sent messages and voicemail to Reyes. The jury also heard that Sayas had driven the Chevy Aveo into Mexico through the Gateway Port of Entry on Dec. 7, 2015, and he re-entered the U.S. via the pedestrian lane the following day.  

During the trial, Sayas attempted to convince the jury he was working the case as a confidential informant. However, the jury heard rebuttal testimony to the contrary, did not believe his claims and convicted him on all counts as charged.

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

Reyes previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and later received a 100-month sentence.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Coronado and Ana Cano are prosecuting the case.