June 2, 2008, 7:37PM
El Paso man accused of smuggling prescription drugs


EL PASO, Texas — An El Paso man accused of being part of a conspiracy to smuggle prescription drugs into the U.S. from Mexico made his first court appearance in federal court Monday.

Alejandro Herrera, 57, did not enter a plea during his brief afternoon hearing.

He has been indicted on charges of conspiracy to smuggle goods into the United States, conspiracy to smuggle misbranded prescription drugs, conspiracy to smuggle prescription drugs, conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to transfer money out of the United States illegally, and smuggling ampicillin and pseudoephedrine into the U.S.

If convicted, Herrera could face more than 20 years in prison. His lawyer, Eduardo Vasquez, declined to comment on the case.

Federal investigators allege that since 2000, Herrera has used family members to smuggle and distribute the prescription medication into the U.S. from Mexico and then distribute it to businesses around the country, including some in Chicago and Detroit.

Herrera is scheduled to be arraigned June 18.






http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/met ... 14997.html