HOUSTON – A 45-year-old Mexican citizen who was illegally residing in Houston has been sentenced to over 19 years in prison for selling methamphetamine out of a barbershop.
Merbin Leodan Inestroza-Perez pleaded guilty on Oct. 6.
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U.S. District Judge David Hittner ordered Inestroza-Perez to serve 235 months in federal prison. He is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment as he is not a U.S. citizen.
At the hearing, Judge Hittner noted the large amount of drugs and questioned his family members on their knowledge of the extent of the quantity of narcotics. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the negative impact drugs have had on the community. The court emphasized that authorities seized 500 grams of fentanyl from Inestroza-Perez and its potentially deadly effects.
The investigation revealed Inestroza-Perez was distributing meth out of a barber shop in Houston.
On March 25, 2022, law enforcement conducted a controlled delivery of 111 grams of meth from him and subsequently searched his residence. At that time, authorities discovered 30 kilograms of cocaine, nearly 18 kilograms of meth, over 500 grams of fentanyl, and eight firearms. The total amount of the narcotics had an estimated street value of $850,000.
The investigation further revealed that Inestroza-Perez was in league with individuals located in South Texas. The other conspirators have since been convicted and are pending sentencing.
Inestroza-Perez will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined soon.