Previously Deported Illegal Alien Gets 20 Years over Meth, Gun Charges

Oklahoma City — An illegal alien from Mexico who was previously deported has been sentenced to 20 years in U.S. prison after having been found to have re-entered the U.S. illegally to participate in a methamphetamine operation.

Elias Vega Amado, a 33-year old Mexican national, was sentenced for his part in an operation to distribute a large amount of methamphetamine and four other crimes: being a felon in possession of eight firearms, being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm, possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and illegal entry into the U.S. after having been previously deported, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Methamphetamine has become a major staple among Mexican cartels, along with human trafficking and sex trafficking, due to major declines in cocaine profits, according to a U.N. report. Mexican cartels have also increasingly sent Mexican nationals into the U.S. to not only smuggle methamphetamine but also to run U.S. operations by employing U.S. citizens. There have been instances of Mexican cartels using U.S. prison gangs to smuggle methamphetamine as well.