Cotulla Man Sentenced to 121 Months for Trafficking Fentanyl and Meth
A Cotulla resident was sentenced in federal court to 121 months in prison for transporting large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl from Eagle Pass to San Antonio, a conviction that underscores ongoing cross jurisdictional drug trafficking risks in the region. The case highlights law enforcement cooperation between federal and local agencies, and raises public safety concerns for Val Verde County residents who live along trafficking corridors.
A federal judge in San Antonio sentenced Jesus Roberto Tellez, 42, to 121 months in prison after prosecutors said he transported narcotics from Eagle Pass to San Antonio. Authorities reported that in October 2021 Tellez was seen collecting a backpack from an Eagle Pass residence, and a traffic stop by Eagle Pass police revealed nine bundles containing 4.3 kilograms of methamphetamine and 498.4 grams of fentanyl pills in the backpack.
Court records show that Tellez admitted to two prior occasions of trafficking narcotics on the same route within the four months leading up to the October 2021 pickup. He was indicted on December 1, 2021, pleaded guilty on August 20, 2025, and was sentenced on December 3, 2025, by U.S. District Judge Jason Pulliam. U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas announced the outcome of the case. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Eagle Pass Police Department investigated the matter, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Spears prosecuted the case.
For Val Verde County residents the conviction underscores how drug flows that begin in border communities can reverberate through nearby counties and metropolitan areas. Eagle Pass sits on an international border crossing and serves as a hub for vehicular movement that law enforcement says can be exploited by trafficking networks. Local law enforcement and federal partners say interagency investigations remain essential to intercept shipments and to disrupt distribution networks that increase the availability of dangerous substances in communities.
Public safety officials recommend vigilance and reporting of suspicious activity to local police. For media inquiries or for more information on the federal case contact the U.S. Attorney's Office Western District of Texas at USATXW.MediaInquiry@usdoj.gov. The sentence in this case reflects federal priorities on large scale shipments of fentanyl and methamphetamine and signals continued focus on coordinated enforcement across jurisdictions that affect Val Verde County.
