Lead Drug Trafficker Sentenced for Escorting More than 100 Kilos of Pure Methamphetamine through Pawnee County

TULSA, Okla. - A man was sentenced today for his lead role in organizing the drug trafficking of more than 100 kilos of pure methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.

U.S. District Judge John F. Heil, III, sentenced Jabier Bustos, 35, to 324 months imprisonment, followed by 5 years of supervised release for Drug Conspiracy.

"Today's prison sentence puts criminals who bring dangerous drugs into the Northern District of Oklahoma, on notice of the cost of that activity," said U.S. Attorney Clinton Johnson. "My office will continue to work towards disrupting and dismantling any criminal organization trying to operate in our backyards. With the collaboration of several law enforcement partners, more than 100 kilos of pure methamphetamine were stopped from being distributed into the Northern District of Oklahoma."

"The importance of the defendant's sentence cannot be overstated. He knowingly smuggled and distributed hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine and other dangerous drugs across Oklahoma," said Robert Melton, Assistant Special Agent in Charge for the HSI Dallas - Oklahoma Division. "Meth is a major concern affecting our society, with connections to violent crime, theft, addiction, and hundreds of overdose fatalities in the last few years. HSI will aggressively investigate any individual or transnational criminal organization seeking to jeopardize the well-being and safety of our communities through the illicit drug trade."

"This investigation demonstrates the tremendous importance of state and federal partnerships working to identify and dismantle criminal drug trafficking organizations. Oklahoma continues to see the devastating impact of methamphetamine and fentanyl on lives and communities. And my agency will aggressively target and help prosecute these traffickers who threaten the peace and safety of this state." - OBN Director Donnie Anderson

According to court documents, Bustos collaborated with his co-defendant, Abel Anthony Flores to get the pure methamphetamine from a drug trafficking organization. Once Bustos and Flores received the delivery they facilitated and escorted more than 101 kilograms of pure methamphetamine through Pawnee County. They both expected to be paid for their involvement in escorting the drugs. Agents not only seized the pure methamphetamine but also found cocaine, fentanyl pills, and several firearms during a search warrant.

Flores previously pled guilty to Drug Conspiracy and was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David O. Nuffer in Feb. 2024. Judge Nuffer ordered Flores to 135 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.

Bustos will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

The Homeland Security Investigations, Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, and Tulsa County Sheriff's Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel-lyn A. McCormick prosecuted the case.

The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.