Illegal Alien Sentenced for Drug Trafficking in East Texas

TYLER � An El Salvadoran illegally living in Tyler has been sentenced to ten years in federal prison for drug trafficking violations. Francisco Antonio Soriano, 38, pleaded guilty last September to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced yesterday in Tyler by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Schneider. Soriano will be deported following the completion of his prison term.

According to federal prosecutors, beginning on December 14, 2011, Soriano conspired with others to acquire and distribute methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas. Soriano admitted he was responsible for the distribution of more than 500 grams of pure methamphetamine. Soriano, Jose Lopez, and Jorge Perez Sanchez were indicted by a federal grand jury in January of last year and charged with drug trafficking violations. Last October, Lopez was sentenced to 168 months in federal prison and Sanchez was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison.