Driver in Failed Meth Smuggling Conspiracy Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison

DEL RIO, Texas - An Arlington woman was sentenced in Del Rio to 168 months in federal prison for her role in a conspiracy to import methamphetamine into the United States.

According to court documents, Linnette Rodriguez-Potter, 46, conspired with others to import 3.422 kilograms of methamphetamine which had a purity of 100%. Rodriguez-Potter was referred to a secondary inspection at the Del Rio Port of Entry on July 25, 2020. Customs and Border Protection Officers discovered and removed seven package containing methamphetamine hydrochloride. A search of her cell phone revealed communications with co-conspirator Sally Renae Smith, in which Rodriguez-Potter was instructed to deliver the packages to Smith at a Del Rio motel. From there, the co-conspirators intended to further traffic the methamphetamine elsewhere in Texas.

Rodriguez-Potter, Smith, and two other co-defendants-Joshua Keith Stewart and Stetson Lee Spearman-all pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge. Smith was sentenced on Feb. 22, 2024 to 292 months in prison. Stewart was sentenced on Oct. 4 to 235 months in prison. Spearman remains in federal custody with a sentence hearing scheduled for March 12, 2025.

U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.

HSI investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Rex Beasley is prosecuting the case.

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