Foreign national sentenced for transporting over 15 kilograms of cocaine from Texas to Virginia

RICHMOND, Va. - A Mexican national was sentenced today to four years and four months in prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

According to court documents, on Nov. 15, 2023, Jesus Alejandro Ibarra-Morales, 30, had crossed into the United States at the Veteran's International Bridge-Los Tomates Port of Entry at Matamoros, Tamaulipas, and Brownsville, Texas, using his border crossing card, and driving a Chevrolet Suburban with Mexico license plates. Ibarra-Morales then picked up two car dollies, the axles of which were packed with 15 bricks of cocaine, with a total weight of over 15 kilograms.

Law enforcement agents received information that a shipment of narcotics was being transported from Texas to Richmond, Virginia, and on Nov. 27, 2023, agents learned that the Suburban was near the drop location in Richmond. Agents stopped the vehicle and identified Ibarra-Morales as the driver. A drug detection canine alerted to the presence of illegal controlled substances on the car dollies and a search of the axles resulted in the recovery of the cocaine.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Derek W. Gordon, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C.; and Colonel Gary T. Settle, Virginia State Police Superintendent, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia L. Norman prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-24.