McALLEN, Texas — Three Houston-area residents were sentenced to federal prison Oct. 22 for trafficking record-breaking amounts of methamphetamines following an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Houston, HSI McAllen, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Eduardo Figueroa Jr., a 29-year-old resident of Cleveland; Cynara Lucia Sarmiento, a 26-year-old resident of Conroe; and Marlon Deon Martin, a 31-year-old resident of Conroe, were sentenced in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas to 144, 60, and 37 months in prison, respectively, for possession with intent to distribute 777 kilograms of methamphetamines. All three were also ordered to serve three years of supervised release following their sentence. Figueroa and Sarmiento pleaded guilty on March 22, 2023. Martin pleaded guilty March 21, 2023.
In May 2021, when authorities seized the 777 kilograms of methamphetamines, it was estimated to be the largest seizure of methamphetamines in the history of the city of Houston. The estimated street value of the meth that were seized is approximately $29 million.
“These three individuals brought record-breaking amounts of deadly narcotics into the Houston area with the intent on flooding our local communities with these poisons,” said HSI Houston acting Special Agent in Charge Robert Kurtz. “Working in conjunction with our partners at the ATF and leveraging HSI’s unique cross-border authorities, we were able to dismantle their drug trafficking scheme and prevent countless individuals from becoming addicted to these deadly substances.”
In handing down the sentences, the court noted that Figueroa was sentenced to the longest time in prison because he was the ringleader for the drug trafficking organization. During his statement at sentencing, Figueroa admitted that he was in charge and took responsibility for getting his co-conspirators involved.
At the time of his plea, Figueroa admitted that he hired Sarmiento as his personal assistant and tasked her with leasing warehouse space and forming Hive Logistics, a business warehouse located in Houston and recruited Martin to help unload the narcotics.
On May 12, 2021, authorities executed a search at the warehouse and discovered 777 kilograms of meth, 10 kilograms of cocaine, ledgers, two pistols and five magazines. The meth was located inside metal barrels marked as mango puree.
In furtherance of his plea, Figueroa admitted that the meth was part of a larger shipment he had received, of which approximately 800 kilograms had already been delivered to several individuals. Sarmiento also admitted to creating a ledger for the drugs and delivering them on at least one occasion with Figueroa.
This case is part of a 2021 investigation into the illegal export and straw purchase of firearms where Figueroa was identified as a recruiter. On Nov. 22, 2021, Figueroa pleaded guilty to conspiracy to straw purchase five shotguns, and he was sentenced to 60 months in prison.
Sarmiento and Martin were permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Figueroa will remain in custody pending transfer to a BOP facility to be determined in the near future.
Assistant U.S. Attorney M. Alexis Garcia prosecuted the case.
For more news and information on HSI’s efforts to investigate illicit drug trafficking and firearms offenses in Southeast Texas follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @HSIHouston.