44 year-old Mario Guadalupe Pecina, of San Antonio, Texas, was sentenced to a total of 12 years and 9 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a $7,500 fine.
Back in January a United States Border Patrol officer stopped Pecina for committing a traffic violation while traveling on Interstate 10 in Harrison County. During the stop, the officer learned that Pecina was previously arrested for smuggling cocaine in 2009. While speaking with the officer, he began displaying signs of nervous behavior. Pecina consented to a search of the vehicle and the officer located 31 kilograms of cocaine concealed within the door and rear hatch panels of the vehicle. He pled guilty on May 9th.
Pecina was also revoked and sentenced to 30 months for violating the terms of the court imposed supervised release from his 2009 conviction for smuggling 9 kilograms of cocaine. The 12 years and 9 months is a total of both sentences. They will run consecutive.
