Dallas man sentenced to life for millions worth of meth hidden in cauliflower boxes
%202.jpg "A Dallas man will spend life in prison after pleading guilty in March to accepting a delivery of $3.7 million worth of meth hidden in boxes of cauliflower, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice.")
A Dallas man will spend life in prison after pleading guilty in March to accepting a delivery of $3.7 million worth of meth hidden in boxes of cauliflower, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice.
Joaquin Salinas, 48, was sentenced Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Barbara M.G. Lynn of the Northern District of Texas, according to the Justice Department.
On Aug. 29, 2021, Salinas received about 247 kilograms of methamphetamine concealed in the cauliflower boxes, according to plea papers. Drug Enforcement Agency officials testified at the sentencing hearing that Salinas had ties to Mexican drug cartels via the Surenos XIII and Puro Tango Blast street gangs. Puro Tango Blast also runs prison gangs, according to the Department of Justice.
DEA agents also testified that Salinas had four guns in his home with the purpose of protecting the drugs and any illegal activity in which he might engage, according to the Justice Department.
Two of Salinas’ codefendants have also been charged with drug-related offenses, according to the news release.
Angel Cabrera pleaded guilty in June to a count of conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute and is awaiting sentencing, according to the Justice Department. Omar Jorge Valle Estrada, another codefendant, has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial.
Eduardo A. Chavez, an agent with the DEA, said in the news release that methamphetamine is a dangerous drug that affects tens of thousands of lives each year.
“Lives were saved by keeping these drugs off the street and DEA Dallas will continue to put the health and safety of our North Texas communities first,” Chavez said.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA, the Dallas Police Department, police in Hickory Creek, Fort Worth police and the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney George Leal prosecuted Salinas’ case.