East Texas

By CASEY KNAUPP
Staff Writer

A 23-year-old man was sentenced to eight months in prison for transporting 21 illegal aliens through Van Zandt County.

Luis Miguel Benitez-Lara pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting in transporting aliens, unlawfully in the United States, for private gain.

He was indicted along with Juan Manuel Vinaja-Quistian, a Mexican citizen, with conspiracy to transport illegal aliens for financial gain.

Vinaja-Quistian earlier pleaded guilty to transporting the aliens from Dallas to Van Zandt County in a 1998 Chevrolet van. He admitted he knew the people were in the United States illegally and he and Benitez-Lara intended to drive them to various locations in the eastern part of the county. U.S. District Judge Michael Schneider, who sentenced Benitez-Lara, earlier assessed Vinaja-Quistian's punishment at one year in prison.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Allen Hurst prosecuted the case, while Benitez-Lara was represented by Darren Grant.

Also in Schneider's court Thursday, Roberto P. Armen-dariz-Lozano, 41, was sentenced to more than five years in prison for being an illegal alien found in the United States after he had been deported three times.

The Mexican national, who was living in Tyler, was arrested on June 6 by Tyler police officers for failing to identify himself. He was sentenced to 45 days in the Smith County Jail and agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement discovered he had been deported to Mexico three times after being convicted of conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine.

He was last deported to Mexico on March 20.

Hurst prosecuted the case, while U.S. Public Defender Ken Hawk represented the defendant.

Jose Luis Perez-Rodriguez, 39, was sentenced by Schneider to six months in prison for possessing counterfeit Alien Regis-tration Receipt Cards on June, 28, 2005, and April 11, 2007.

He admitted to possessing the falsely made cards, which are required for entry into the country or as evidence of an authorized stay or employment in the United States.

He was represented by U.S. Public Defender Wayne Dickey, while Assistant U.S. Jim Middleton represented the government.

METH CHARGES

A 53-year-old Tyler man was sentenced to six years and seven months in prison for possessing with the intent to distribute meth.

John Bruce Guthrie pleaded guilty to possessing with the intent to distribute 21 grams of meth on Sept. 1, 2006, in Smith County.

He was charged in a three-count indictment, along with Stacie Charm Stripling and Sharlanda McCoy, for conspiracy to possess and distribute at least 5 grams of meth from 2005 through Sept. 8, 2006.

Schneider sentenced Guthrie and recommended that he undergo drug treatment.

The defendant apologized for what he did and said he knew he could do better when he gets out of prison.

Ms. Stripling, 32, Tyler, was sentenced to five years and three months for possessing meth during a traffic stop on Sept. 1, 2006, in Smith County. She pleaded guilty to possessing with the intent to distribute 21 grams of meth. Ms. McCoy has pleaded guilty to possessing with the intent to distribute meth and awaits sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Ann Cozby prosecuted the case, while Hawk defended Guthrie.