Mexican national sentenced for attempting to flee US port of entry, drug trafficking following HSI Eagle Pass, federal partner investigation

DEL RIO, Texas — A Mexican national was sentenced to 27 years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine following an investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) office with help from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Caleb Eduardo Gomez-Sanchez, 35, was sentenced by a federal judge on April 10 to serve 324 months in prison. Gomez-Sanchez pleaded guilty on Sept. 13, 2021, to possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.

"Actions that threaten the safety and well-being of law enforcement and the general public are unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” said HSI San Antonio Special Agent in Charge Craig S. Larrabee. “HSI, in collaboration with our law enforcement partners, will prioritize the investigation and prosecution of any individual who chooses to harm the public and officers at the port of entry.”

According to court documents, on March 2, 2021, Gomez-Sanchez attempted to enter the United States from Mexico via the Eagle Pass Port of Entry. Initially, Gomez-Sanchez followed directions and exited the vehicle for a secondary inspection, but when he was asked to remove his jacket to check his pockets, Gomez-Sanchez jumped back into the car and drove into oncoming traffic, attempting to flee back to Mexico. CBP officers reacted by positioning their vehicle to block Gomez-Sanchez from fleeing further. Gomez-Sanchez rammed his vehicle into the parked vehicle while two officers were still seated inside. Both officers sustained injuries during the collision.

Gomez-Sanchez eventually crashed into a concrete barrier at the Mexican port of entry on the other side of the bridge. Mexican authorities immediately returned Gomez-Sanchez to U.S. authorities. CBP officials discovered a sock in Gomez-Sanchez’s coat pocket containing a substance suspected to be methamphetamine. Analysis of the suspected methamphetamine identified the substance as methamphetamine hydrochloride, with a total weight of 64.48 grams and a purity level of approximately 99%.

“The federal agents along our southern border risk their lives on a daily basis to limit the infiltration of drugs, weapons, and the illegal entry of undocumented noncitizens into the United States,” said U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas Jaime Esparza. “I appreciate the diligence of our CBP officers at Eagle Pass for their efforts in this case, along with the Mexican law enforcement officers for their assistance in returning this defendant to U.S. custody for prosecution.”

Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas Katy Garner prosecuted the case.

HSI is the principal investigative arm of DHS, responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel and finance move. HSI’s workforce of more than 8,700 employees consists of more than 6,000 special agents assigned to 237 cities throughout the United States, and 93 overseas locations in 56 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’ largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.

Source: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE.gov)