Illegal Alien Felon and Georgia Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Trafficking over 700 Pounds of Methamphetamine Hidden in Cucumber Shipment

GAINESVILLE - Andres Jasso, Jr. and Rufino Pineda-Perez, an illegal alien from Mexico and twice-convicted felon, were sentenced to federal prison for their roles in trafficking over 700 pounds of methamphetamine concealed in a tractor-trailer load of cucumbers outside of a Gainesville, Georgia warehouse.

"The defendants attempted to conceal an astonishing amount of deadly methamphetamine in a cucumber shipment, but the diligent and strategic efforts of law enforcement partners uncovered their ruse," said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. "As a result, Pineda-Perez, a twice-convicted and twice-deported felon, and Jasso, Jr. will now serve substantial time in federal prison with no possibility of parole."

"This sentence reflects the seriousness of trafficking methamphetamine and the importance of holding repeat offenders accountable," said Michael J. Connolly, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. "This defendant, a twice-convicted felon, continued to engage in dangerous drug trafficking, going to great lengths to conceal methamphetamine in a shipment of cucumbers. Cases like this demonstrate why strong partnerships among law enforcement agencies are so critical. By working together, sharing information, and pursuing a common mission, we can disrupt drug trafficking organizations and protect our communities."

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: On June 30, 2025, DEA agents were surveilling a tractor-trailer parked at a Gainesville warehouse that agents believed contained a large amount of drugs. Agents arrested Jasso, Jr. and Pineda-Perez after seeing them in a sedan parked next to the tractor-trailer. During a search of the tractor-trailer, agents located 20 pallets of boxes containing cucumbers and thousands of individually wrapped packages of methamphetamine. The investigation established that co-conspirators had tasked Jasso, Jr. and Pineda-Perez with offloading the boxes from the tractor-trailer and separating the drugs from the cucumbers. The weight of the methamphetamine exceeded 700 pounds.

Pineda-Perez is a citizen and national of Mexico with no legal status in the United States. In 2001, Pineda-Perez was deported and removed from the United States following a felony conviction in Arizona for transporting marijuana. He illegally re-entered the United States thereafter and was encountered by federal agents in March 2014, while transporting nearly one kilogram of cocaine in the Atlanta area. In August 2015, a federal judge sentenced him to six and a half years of imprisonment. Upon completion of his prison sentence, Pineda-Perez was deported for a second time.

Earlier today, Rufino Pineda-Perez, 61, of Mexico, was sentenced to 15 years in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release. On July 17, 2026, Andres Jasso, Jr., 39, of Brookhaven, Ga., was also sentenced to 15 years in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release.

On March 11, 2026, Pineda-Perez and Jasso, Jr. pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, and Pineda-Perez also pleaded guilty to illegal reentry by a previously removed alien.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with valuable assistance provided by the Georgia State Patrol, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Assistant United States Attorney Johnny Baer prosecuted the case.

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.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney's Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.