The Department of Justice said on Thursday that a second guy had entered a guilty plea after traveling to Tampa with 60 kg of methamphetamine.
Hernan Cruz-Moreno, 24, of Earlimart, California, and Agustin Ortiz-Sanchez, 22, of Thermal, California, traveled from Los Angeles to Tampa International on May 2, 2023, carrying four suitcases containing a total of sixty kilograms of methamphetamine, according to the plea deal.
A narcotics detection dog detected the contraband after special agents from Homeland Security and police officers at Tampa International Airport inspected the luggage.
As Ortiz-Sanchez and Cruz-Moreno went to get their baggage, they were taken into custody.
Cruz-Moreno acknowledged that he had been paid $2,000 to move the bags, but he maintained at the time that he was aware that the contents of the bags were “something illegal.”
Cruz-Moreno admitted to plotting to possess and distribute methamphetamine, according to a Justice Department announcement on Thursday. He may be sentenced to federal prison for a minimum of ten years or for life. The date of sentencing is pending.
In November, Ortiz-Sanchez admitted guilt to the same crime. February 27 is the date of his sentence hearing.
This case was looked into by Homeland Security Investigations and the Tampa International Airport Police Department.
