California Man Sentenced for Leading Narcotics Trafficking Conspiracy

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McALLEN, Texas – Shaun Michael Simmons, a 37-year-old resident of Sacramento, California, has been sentenced to 135 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for his role in a conspiracy to import narcotics through the Rio Grande Valley for distribution within the United States, as announced by U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Simmons pleaded guilty on October 11, 2023. At his sentencing, Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane emphasized Simmons’ leadership role in the operation and his criminal history.

The conspiracy was uncovered on June 14, 2022, when Dustin Oliver attempted to enter the United States from Mexico at the Anzalduas Port of Entry in Mission. An X-ray scan of his vehicle's trailer revealed anomalies, prompting a secondary inspection. Law enforcement discovered 20 packages of cocaine, weighing approximately 22 kilograms, concealed within the trailer's aftermarket compartments.

Further investigation identified Ericka Iesha Thomas as a co-conspirator who recruited Oliver in Austin to transport the narcotics. Simmons had orchestrated the operation, recruiting Thomas to find a transporter and providing the necessary instructions and funds for the trips.

Oliver, 35, from Indiana, and Thomas, 30, from California, were previously sentenced to 24 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for their roles in the conspiracy.

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