Texas Man Sentenced to More than Five Years in Prison For Smuggling Kilograms of Cocaine

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - A Texas man has been sentenced for smuggling cocaine, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Catherine L. Crosby.

U.S. District Court Judge Anna Manasco sentenced Rolando Garza-Alaniz, 38, of Roma, Texas, to 64 months in prison. In October 2025, Garza pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

According to the plea agreement, on September 6, 2023, an agent with the 17^th Circuit Drug Task Force conducted a traffic stop on Garza for crossing the lines on Interstate 20/59 in Greene County, Alabama. Garza told the agent that he and his girlfriend were travelling from Texas to New York for vacation. The agent noticed that Garza appeared to be extremely nervous during the conversation and asked if he could search the vehicle. Garza consented to the search. Agents recovered 7 kilograms of powder cocaine concealed inside the inner lining of the Igloo cooler.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case along with the 17^th Circuit Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brittany T. Byrd and Carson R. Gilbert prosecuted the case.