A meticulously hidden compartment wasn’t enough to hide a Texas man’s alleged drug operation from federal agents. Following a six-day trial, a Pittsburgh jury convicted Jorge Luis Guerrero, 39, of Socorro, Texas, of possessing 500 grams or more of cocaine with the intent to distribute.
The verdict was delivered on July 29, 2025, following five and a half hours of discussion. According to evidence submitted to Senior United States District Judge Joy Flowers Conti, Guerrero carried an astounding five kilograms of cocaine to the Western District of Pennsylvania.
The drugs were hidden inside a sophisticated secret compartment built into the bumper of a car registered to his wife. To access the illicit cargo, the bumper cover and bumper had to be removed, followed by additional metal plates designed to disguise the compartment.
Guerrero is now facing a harsh sentence. The statute requires a maximum total term of at least five years and up to forty years in jail, a fine of up to $5 million, or both. Judge Conti has ordered Guerrero’s sentencing for December 10, 2025. The final sentence will be determined by the nature of the offense and any past criminal history.
Assistant United States Attorneys Robert C. Schupansky and V. Joseph Sonson prosecuted the case. The conviction was the result of a joint effort by several organizations, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Socorro Police Department, US Customs and Border Protection, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
