An east Coachella Valley couple convicted in federal court of smuggling pesticides and veterinary drugs into the country from Mexico were sentenced to months in prison, supervised release and ordered to forfeit millions in profits, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Otilio Rodriguez Toledo and Alicia Auspuro Hernandez of Thermal pleaded guilty in 2023 to conspiracy for a scheme in which they facilitated pesticides and drugs being smuggled through the Calexico Port of Entry for distribution in the U.S.
Toledo was sentenced to five months in prison and two years of supervised release, according to a press release from the DOJ. Hernandez was credited for time served and will complete 18 months of supervised release. They were also ordered to pay $2.19 million.
The two were found to have led an operation in which smugglers would deliver the contraband to storage units near the border. The involved pesticides, Taktic and Bovitraz, are not permitted for use by the Environmental Protection Agency. And a long list of veterinary drugs they trafficked are not approved by the FDA, including: Tetragent Aves, Metabolase, Terramicina, Cipio Vet, Baytril Max, Tylovet, Caterrol, Penicilina, and Tylosma. Two of those chemicals contain amitraz, the DOJ noted, which is toxic to bees and humans if tainted honey and other products are consumed.
“Selling illegal pesticides and veterinary drugs endangers people, animals, and the environment,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon for the Southern District of California in a prepared statement. “Our office will continue to prosecute those individuals who disregard the dangerous consequences of their illegal smuggling.”
Christopher Damien covers public safety and the criminal justice system for The Desert Sun. He can be reached at christopher.damien@desertsun.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Coachella Valley couple sentenced for smuggling pesticides, medicine from Mexico
Reporting by Christopher Damien, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
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