Brownsville resident heads to prison after attempt to transport over $200,000 of cocaine

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 35-year-old man has been sentenced for possession with intent to distribute more than four kilograms of cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Elias Garcia pleaded guilty Nov. 30, 2023.

U.S. District Judge David S. Morales has now ordered Garcia to serve 82 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by four years of supervised release.

On Oct. 4, 2023, Garcia attempted to drive a Jeep Cherokee SUV through the primary inspection lane of the Falfurrias Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint. Soon thereafter, an X-ray of the vehicle showed the presence of an anomaly inside the vehicle’s battery compartment located beneath the driver’s seat. Authorities searched the vehicle and discovered four bundles of cocaine concealed within the battery.

The weight of the cocaine was over four kilograms and had an estimated street value of more than $200,000.

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

BP and the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Marck prosecuted the case.