U.S. Attorney Jaime E. Esparza | U.S. Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney Jaime E. Esparza | U.S. Department of Justice
A Mexican national was sentenced in El Paso to 245 months in prison for two counts related to her role in a drug trafficking conspiracy.
According to court documents, Karla Adriana Votta-Cardenas, also known as “Adriana,” “Samantha,” and “Sophia,” 43, of Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, worked for a drug trafficking organization (DTO) led by Jorge Sanchez-Morales. The organization primarily trafficked methamphetamine. Liquid methamphetamine was imported from Juarez, Mexico into El Paso and then transported to Atlanta concealed in the fuel tanks of semi tractors. In Atlanta, the liquid methamphetamine was converted to crystalline form and distributed. Sanchez-Morales oversaw the operation on behalf of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).
Votta-Cardenas served as a large-scale recruiter for the DTO, recruiting drivers through "help wanted" ads on social media. She recruited more than 20 drivers using this method without disclosing that they would be trafficking drugs.
Votta-Cardenas was arrested by Mexican authorities and extradited to the U.S. from Mexico on November 1, 2023.
U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven Spitzer and Nathan Brown prosecuted the case.
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