A Mexican national, arrested in February in Love County after Oklahoma Highway Patrol Troopers found more than 325 pounds of marijuana in his vehicle, was sentenced Thursday in federal court.
Alfonso Rascon Vasquez, 49, was sentenced to five years in prison and another four years of supervised release, according to Sheldon J. Sperling, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Oklahoma. Sperling said the sentence also included District Judge Ronald A. White’s order to pay a $100 special assessment fee.
Vasquez, who listed his address as St. Cloud, Minn., was arrested after he was stopped by troopers on Feb. 5 for erratic driving. During the stop, troopers found and seized the more than 325 pounds of marijuana discovered in his car.
“Vasquez is a citizen of the Republic of Mexico, and a hold was placed on him by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents (at the time of his arrest),” Sperling said.
OHP and Drug Enforcement Agency agents conducted an investigation that led to Vasquez’s indictment by a federal grand jury Feb. 13 on charges of possession with intent to distribute marijuana. Sperling said Vasquez pleaded guilty to the charge on March 27.
Following his sentencing hearing Thursday, Vasquez was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal’s Service to begin serving his sentence.
