TEXAS MAN SENTENCED TO OVER 19 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING

Fort Smith, Arkansas – Kenneth Elser, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, announced that Mauro Gonzales, age 38, of Arlington, Texas was sentenced yesterday to 235 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release on one count of Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine. The Honorable Chief Judge P. K. Holmes, III in the United States District Court in Fort Smith.

According to court records, in August of 2012, agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in Fort Smith, Arkansas, learned that large quantities of methamphetamine were being distributed out of the Fort Smith area. During the investigation, Agents were able to identify Mauro Gonzales and co-conspirator Gerardo Gamboa along with other members of the drug trafficking organization. On May 20, 2013, Gamboa was traffic stopped in Sequoya County, Oklahoma for speeding. A search of the vehicle revealed approximately 4.7 pounds (2,138grams) of methamphetamine concealed in the back seat of the vehicle Gamboa was driving.

Gonzales was indicted in the Western District of Arkansas in 2013 and pled guilty on February 16, 2017.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Fort Smith Police Department and the Oklahoma Highway Police. Assistant United States Attorney Candace Taylor prosecuted the case for the United States.

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Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website @ www.pacer.gov