Two sent to prison for conspiring to import kilos of meth

DOJ Press

McALLEN, Texas – A 60-year-old San Antonio resident has been ordered to federal prison after admitting to conspiring to import 18 kilograms of meth, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Douglas Wayne Tatum pleaded guilty Feb. 1.

Today, U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez ordered Tatum to serve a 188-month sentence to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, Judge Alvarez noted Tatum was more than average participant and had recruited the driver who imported the meth.

At the time of his plea, Tatum admitted that on Sept. 30, 2019, he directed Kandy Martinez to drive into Mexico and smuggle a vehicle loaded with bundles of meth into the United States. He said he would be waiting for her when she returned and would pay her $4,000.


He admitted he drove Martinez from San Antonio to Rio Grande Valley. She then drove into Mexico and exchanged her car for the vehicle loaded with meth.


Martinez attempted to drive the vehicle into the United States at the Donna Port of Entry. At inspection, a search of the vehicle revealed 18 bundles of meth weighing 18 kilograms hidden within the rear panel of the vehicle and in the spare tire.

Martinez, 52, San Antonio,  previously pleaded guilty and received a 42-month term of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release.

Tatum will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney M. Alexis Garcia prosecuted the case.

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