Department of Justice
For Immediate Release
Jury Takes 7 Minutes to Convict Amarillo Drug Dealer
A federal jury convicted an Amarillo man of drug crimes after just seven minutes of deliberation on Wednesday, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham.
Gilbert Joseph Carrasco, 44, was indicted in June 2021. After two days of trial, on Aug. 31, 2022, a jury convicted him of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to evidence presented in court, undercover agents arranged to purchase methamphetamine from 25-year-old Catrina Palmer on April 28, 2020. Mr. Carasco drove Ms. Palmer to the undercover buy. Agents located a trap in the dashboard of his truck that contained methamphetamine. Investigation later revealed that Mr. Carrasco was Ms. Palmer’s methamphetamine supplier.
In an interview, Mr. Carrasco admitted to receiving and distributing methamphetamine. He also admitted to being a convicted felon and knowingly possession a .22 bolt action rifle he said he obtained on the “streets.”
Ms. Palmer pled guilty in April 2021 to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to five years in federal prison.
Mr. Carrasco now faces up to 50 years in federal prison – 20 years per count on counts one and two and 10 years on count three. His sentencing has been set for Dec. 20, 2022 in Amarillo.
The Amarillo Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Dallas Field Division, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ Dallas Field Division conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matt Tusing and Joshua Frausto prosecuted the case with the help of Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Marie Bell. U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk presided over the trial.