Dallas man sentenced to 40 years in federal prison for meth trafficking operation linked to Mexico
Dallas, Texas – A Dallas man has been sentenced to 40 years in federal prison for his role in a transnational drug trafficking scheme that involved importing large amounts of liquid methamphetamine from Mexico and distributing it across North Texas. The sentencing was announced by United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould, marking a major success in the fight against foreign drug networks operating within the United States.
Major Drug Operation Dismantled in North Texas
Orlando Gerardo Mejia-Mendoza, a Dallas resident, pleaded guilty in June 2025 to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, by 2023, Mejia-Mendoza was receiving shipments of liquid methamphetamine directly from Mexico, with each shipment ranging between 20 and 25 kilograms. He reportedly paid $1,800 per kilogram, indicating the operation’s significant financial scale.
Federal agents uncovered multiple apartments in Dallas linked to Mejia-Mendoza. One of them contained an active methamphetamine conversion laboratory, where the liquid drug was being processed into crystal methamphetamine. Meth in various stages of production was found throughout the apartment. In another property, investigators discovered multiple firearms and a substantial amount of cash, further highlighting the dangerous and high-level nature of the operation.
On Wednesday, January 14, 2026, U.S. District Judge Ada Brown handed down a sentence of 480 months (40 years) in federal prison to Mejia-Mendoza.
“Ejecting transnational drug traffickers from our streets is critical to protecting North Texas,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “This criminal spilled poison into our communities in exchange for money. All credit for the conviction and 40-year prison sentence goes to our heroes in law enforcement and our line prosecutor, who worked in close collaboration with the Dallas Homeland Security Task Force.”
Homeland Security Task Force Collaboration Led to Conviction
This case was pursued as part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative, established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a government-wide partnership targeting transnational criminal organizations, drug cartels, foreign gangs, and human trafficking rings operating domestically and abroad.
The Dallas HSTF is made up of agents from the FBI, DEA, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and was assisted by the Dallas Police Department, Coppell Police Department, and Grand Prairie Police Department in the investigation.
“The sentence of Mr. Mejia-Mendoza sends clear message to drug traffickers that they will be held accountable for the distribution of poisonous drugs and violence in North Texas,” said Joseph B. Tucker, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Dallas Division. “This investigation demonstrates what coordinated, intelligence-driven, law enforcement can accomplish. The men and women of DEA and our partners remain committed to pursuing and dismantling foreign terrorist organizations that endanger Americans.”
The collaborative effort also drew praise from the FBI Dallas Field Office. “This lengthy sentence is another success for the Dallas Homeland Security Task Force. Our collective effort resulted in a member of a transnational criminal organization being held accountable for trafficking narcotics into the Dallas area,” said Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock.
Broader Impact and Continued Efforts
The Homeland Security Task Force emphasizes its mission to not only dismantle drug operations, but also target those committing crimes involving children, and to use every available legal tool to prosecute and remove violent criminal aliens from the United States.
Mejia-Mendoza’s sentencing marks a significant milestone in the ongoing effort to secure communities in North Texas from the influence of international drug networks, and serves as a warning to others engaged in similar activities.
