SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — A Calexico man has been sentenced to prison for orchestrating a years-long scheme to smuggle and distribute illegal pesticides and veterinary drugs from Mexico into the United States, federal prosecutors in San Diego announced Wednesday.
Ruben Montes, 60, was sentenced to 16 months in federal prison and ordered to forfeit $12,710 after pleading guilty to a conspiracy charge related to the distribution of more than $3 million in unapproved products.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California, Montes coordinated the illegal importation and sale of chemicals and drugs not approved for use by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Authorities say the operation began in 2020 and spanned multiple states.
“Bringing in and selling pesticides and veterinary drugs illegally puts both people and the environment at risk,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon. “These unregulated products can be harmful to animals, insects, and humans. Our office is committed to holding accountable anyone who chooses profit over public safety.”
The unapproved pesticides, primarily Taktic and Bovitraz, contain amitraz — a chemical toxic to bees and potentially dangerous to humans if it contaminates honey or beeswax. The veterinary drugs involved — including Tylocet, Terramicina, Tetragent Ares, and Catarrol — are not FDA-approved for use in the U.S.
Federal officials said Montes directed co-conspirators to smuggle the products into the U.S. by hiding them during border crossings. Once across, the illegal products were stored in units in Calexico before being distributed across the country. Montes also shipped around 150 packages of the unapproved substances to an accomplice in Texas.
One of Montes’ co-defendants, identified as Gutierrez, remains at large. Montes and Gutierrez supplied most of the illegal substances to individuals charged in a separate case, United States v. Toledo, according to court documents.
“A secure border is vital to ensuring the health and safety of Americans,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “The Justice Department is committed to prosecuting those who violate our environmental and customs laws and jeopardize the health and safety of our citizens.”
The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in collaboration with the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division, and with support from the EPA and FDA.
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