A 46-year-old woman from Mathis has been sentenced for her involvement in a meth trafficking conspiracy that utilized mail shipments from Mexico.

As reported by U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani, Elena Barrera pleaded guilty on November 7, 2023, to conspiracy charges related to possessing with the intent to distribute liquid meth. U.S. District Judge David S. Morales has sentenced Barrera to 120 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release.

During the sentencing hearing, the court learned that Barrera had played a leadership role in the conspiracy. She recruited and paid another individual to receive meth on her behalf. The court also took into account that she had received at least six packages of narcotics.

The investigation began in November 2020 when officials intercepted a parcel containing liquid meth shipped from Mexico to Mathis, Texas. The package contained approximately seven kilograms of liquid meth hidden inside shampoo bottles. Authorities conducted a controlled delivery at the post office, which Barrera subsequently collected.

In her plea deal, Barrera admitted to using mail services to receive multiple packages of narcotics and recruited others to assist in retrieving these packages.

The Texas Department of Public Safety and Homeland Security Investigations played critical roles in this case’s investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyler Foster prosecuted the case, emphasizing how Barrera’s actions significantly contributed to the trafficking operation.

Barrera remains in custody awaiting transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility.