Concealing cocaine carries considerable sentence

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - A 51-year-old Alamo resident has been sentenced for possession with intent to distribute $4 million worth of cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Olga Lydia Segundo pleaded guilty April 15.

U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzalez Ramos has now ordered Segundo to serve 120 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release.

On Jan. 13, Segundo arrived at the Falfurrias Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint driving a white 2010 Chevrolet Silverado. Law enforcement proceeded to ask questions about her trip and Segundo gave answers that did not make sense. Segundo stated she was going to Austin at one point, then to Houston for a job interview but could not remember the name of the company or where the job interview was happening.

During this time, there were freezing temperatures in South Texas, and authorities noticed Segundo did not have any cold-weather clothes or clothes for a job interview.

Segundo gave law enforcement consent to search the vehicle. An x-ray scan showed anomalies in all four tires of the vehicle. Authorities discovered they were lined with welded metal casings that serve as aftermarket compartments.

After drilling through the casings, law enforcement found 24 bundles of cocaine wrapped in cellophane weighing 48 kilograms with an estimated street value of over $4 million.

Segundo will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and BP conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Griffith prosecuted the case.