Francisco Santana Herrera, a 42-year-old Mexican national illegally residing in the U.S., has been sentenced to 80 months in federal prison for attempting to distribute cocaine. The sentencing took place on November 21, 2024, in Beaumont, Texas, under U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone.
Herrera, who was arrested on April 10, 2024, for speeding in a construction zone along Interstate 10 in Beaumont, was found with approximately 16 kilograms of cocaine in his vehicle. Following his guilty plea to charges of cocaine distribution, the court imposed the prison sentence.
The case was a joint effort between the Beaumont Police Department, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and Homeland Security Investigations/Customs Enforcement. The prosecution was led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Grove.
