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BORDER PROTECTION

Judge sentences drug smuggler from Pinal County to 10 years

A 22-year-old Casa Grande man was sentenced this week to 10 years in prison for smuggling methamphetamine into the United States, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced.

U.S. District Judge Dominic W. Lanza also ordered Jesus Vega Perez to spend five years of supervised release after leaving prison.

Perez was convicted Jan. 19 by a federal jury of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and importation of methamphetamine.

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BORDER PROTECTION

Judge sentences drug smuggler from Pinal County to 10 years

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A 22-year-old Casa Grande man was sentenced this week to 10 years in prison for smuggling methamphetamine into the United States, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced.

U.S. District Judge Dominic W. Lanza also ordered Jesus Vega Perez to spend five years of supervised release after leaving prison.

Perez was convicted Jan. 19 by a federal jury of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and importation of methamphetamine.

“Perez presented, and the jury rejected, a duress defense at trial,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office stated in a release.

Authorities said that on April 2, 2022, Perez drove a 2018 BMW sedan into the United States through the San Luis Port of Entry in San Luis, Arizona, where Customs and Border Protection officers discovered 30 packages hidden throughout the vehicle.

The packages contained a white crystal-like substance that tested positive for methamphetamine. The combined weight of the packages was more than 30 pounds, the release stated.

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