El Paso Standard

A Houston woman, Alyssa Marie Maldonado, was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. The sentencing follows an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Maldonado, aged 40, received her sentence on February 25 from U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez. Her punishment includes three years of supervised release after serving her prison term. During the hearing, further testimony highlighted her involvement in concealing drugs within a vehicle. She had previously pleaded guilty on October 16, 2024.

"Today's sentencing underscores the serious consequences of fentanyl trafficking. ICE is committed to holding those responsible for distributing this deadly drug accountable and to working with our partners to protect communities from its devastating effects,” stated Mark Lippa, Deputy Special Agent in Charge at ICE Homeland Security Investigations Rio Grande Valley.

The case documents reveal that on March 24, 2024, Maldonado attempted to enter the United States through the Brownsville and Matamoros International Port of Entry. Initially denying any contraband in her vehicle and providing false reasons for visiting Mexico, she was subjected to a secondary inspection where a K-9 unit detected something suspicious near the rear back seat area. Authorities discovered anomalies in the fuel tank which contained 22 packages testing positive for fentanyl with a total weight of 8.70 kilograms.

After being released on bond earlier, Maldonado was taken into custody following her sentencing and will remain there until she is transferred to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Blackmon from the Southern District of Texas prosecuted this case.