Illegal alien sentenced for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas

SHERMAN, Texas -A Mexican national illegally living in Dallas has been sentenced to federal prison for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.

Francisco Ortuno, 29, a Mexican national, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 170 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant, III on March 4, 2026.

According to information presented in court, in 2021, federal agents began investigating a Mexico-based drug trafficking organization (DTO) operating a narcotics distribution cell in the North Texas area. The investigation led to multiple seizures of methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, heroin, firearms, and large amounts of U.S. currency. On October 4, 2022, federal agents executed a search warrant at a residence in Dallas used to traffic narcotics by the DTO. Upon knocking and announcing, agents were fired upon by a suspect inside the house. That suspect and the defendant, Francisco Ortuno, both fled the residence on foot leading to a chase until they were caught and detained. Inside the residence, agents seized over 30 kilograms of methamphetamine, four firearms, multiple drug ledgers, and supplies used to convert methamphetamine.

This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Wes Wynne.