Mathis woman imprisoned for trafficking meth packages through mail

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - A 46-year-old woman has been sentenced for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute liquid meth, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Elena Barrera pleaded guilty Nov. 7, 2023.

U.S. District Judge David S. Morales has now ordered Barrera to serve 120 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that described how Barrera had acted as a leader in the conspiracy by recruiting and paying another individual to receive meth for her. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the severity of the conduct and that Barrera had received at least six packages of narcotics.

The investigation into Barrera began in November 2020 when authorities learned of a parcel containing liquid meth that was being shipped from Mexico to Mathis. Law enforcement intercepted the package and found it contained approximately seven kilograms of liquid meth concealed within shampoo bottles. Authorities conducted a controlled delivery at the post office and Barrera picked up the package.

As part of her plea, Barrera admitted to using the mail to receive multiple other packages of narcotics and to recruiting others to retrieve packages of narcotics for her.

Barrera previously was ordered detained. Barrera will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Texas Department of Public Safety and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyler Foster prosecuted the case.