A Texas trucker faces up to twenty years in prison after admitting to trafficking drugs from El Paso to Ohio.
El Paso resident Javier Eduardo Gutierrez-Quintana, 47, pleaded guilty to possession of 20 kilograms of cocaine with intent to distribute, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio.
Gutierrez-Quintana was arrested on May 31, 2024, at a truck stop in Youngstown, Ohio.
Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) troopers were conducting a separate investigation into possible prostitution at the truck stop when they encountered Gutierrez-Quintana. OSHP deployed a canine unit, and the dog alerted to the presence of drugs near the truck driven by Gutierrez-Quintana.
Gutierrez-Quintana consented to a vehicle search.
During the search, OSHP uncovered three black duffle bags containing 20 blue-taped packages filled with approximately 44 pounds of cocaine.
“Gutierrez-Quintana admitted to investigators that he knowingly transported 20 kilograms of narcotics from El Paso, Texas to the Youngstown, Ohio area, where he was scheduled to meet with an unknown person (or persons) and deliver the packages,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
Gutierrez-Quintana faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for possessing narcotics with intent to distribute. His sentencing is scheduled for November 22, 2024.
The case was investigated the DEA and the OSHP.
