A Mexican national residing illegally in Garland, Texas, has been sentenced to 150 months in federal prison for his role in trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Salud Alejandro Ruiz Mendoza, age 28, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. On December 1, 2025, U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant handed down the sentence.
Court documents revealed that Mendoza and his co-defendants were involved in distributing and possessing with intent to distribute about 37 kilograms of methamphetamine that had been imported from Mexico into the North Texas region. During the investigation, authorities also seized several firearms and roughly 91 pounds of marijuana.
The prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America, which is described as “a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.”
The FBI and Texas Department of Public Safety led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lesley Brooks prosecuted the case.
