SHERMAN, Texas — A Mexican national living illegally in the United States has been sentenced to more than 22 years in federal prison for his role in a major drug trafficking operation that distributed large quantities of methamphetamine throughout North Texas.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Texas announced that 32-year-old Juan Lopez-Carmona was sentenced on June 15, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant.
Lopez-Carmona previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
The court sentenced him to 270 months, or 22 years and six months, in federal prison.
According to evidence presented in court, federal investigators launched an investigation in 2021 into a drug trafficking organization responsible for transporting large quantities of narcotics from Mexico into the United States for redistribution.
During the investigation, federal agents executed a search warrant at a residence in Dallas on Oct. 4, 2022.
Authorities said Lopez-Carmona, who was residing illegally in Dallas at the time, opened fire on federal agents from inside the residence before attempting to flee on foot.
Investigators quickly apprehended Lopez-Carmona and another individual.
A subsequent search of the residence uncovered more than 30 kilograms of methamphetamine, four firearms, and various items commonly associated with drug trafficking operations.
Federal authorities said the broader investigation resulted in the seizure of significant quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, heroin, firearms, and large amounts of U.S. currency.
The case was investigated as part of a Homeland Security Task Force operation targeting large-scale narcotics trafficking organizations operating within the Eastern District of Texas.
U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs announced the sentence.
Federal officials said the lengthy prison term reflects both the scale of the drug trafficking conspiracy and the danger posed when Lopez-Carmona allegedly fired at law enforcement officers attempting to execute the search warrant.
