Dealer heads to prison for possessing over 5,000 grams of pure meth

HOUSTON - A 25-year-old Houston resident has been sentenced for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute meth, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Jesus Alfredo Palacios pleaded guilty Jan. 30.

U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen has now ordered Palacios to serve 150 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release.

The investigation began in January 2020 when law enforcement learned Palacios was selling kilogram quantities of meth in the Houston area.

On March 30, 2021, authorities observed Palacios leaving his apartment carrying a beige colored backpack and a large box. He then placed the box in the back seat of a gray 2011 Nissan Sentra. Law enforcement conducted a traffic stop and immediately noticed a strong odor of marijuana emitting from his vehicle.

Upon searching the Nissan, authorities also observed two boxes in the back seat with three plastic containers that contained a crystalized substance. Laboratory analysis revealed it was 5,768 grams of meth and had a purity level of 88%.

Palacios 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 conducted the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation with the assistance of Precinct 3 Harris County Constable's office. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice's OCDETF webpage.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Stuart A. Burns prosecuted the case.