Husband of 'bravest woman in Mexico' sentenced to 6 years in prison in drug case

The husband of Marisol Valles Garcia, once recognized as the "bravest woman in Mexico" for taking over the Police Department in one of the country’s most dangerous border towns, was sentenced to six years in federal prison in a drug-related case.

On Tuesday, Ernesto Daniel Rubio-Cervantes was sentenced to six years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for importing and distributing narcotics while seeking asylum in the U.S, the Department of Justice stated in a written statement. His case was heard in the Texas Western District Court in El Paso.

Rubio-Cervantes, 25, was initially accused of drug trafficking, money laundering and smuggling undocumented immigrants into the country.

More: Husband of 'bravest woman in Mexico' jailed

Although he initially denied committing the crimes, Rubio-Cervantes in July reached an agreement with prosecutors and pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to import marijuana and one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Rubio-Cervantes was arrested in December while allegedly trying to smuggle undocumented immigrants through Tornillo, in far East El Paso, records show. He was then charged with conspiracy to transport aliens and transporting aliens. 

Three months later, a superseding indictment was filed in federal court and he was additionally charged with conspiracy to import 100 kilograms or more of marijuana, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.

According to the Department of Justice, Rubio-Cervantes, in his plea agreement, admitted that from November 2015 to Dec. 6, he conspired with others to import and distribute more than 50 kilograms of marijuana.

Rubio-Cervantes was described by federal law enforcement officials as the leader of a drug transportation group that worked in the Lower Valley area. He was responsible for recruiting drivers to move the marijuana loads that were smuggled into the U.S. from Mexico, officials said. 

 All motions and documents related to Rubio-Cervantes have been sealed by a federal court. Co-defendants Jesse Dominguez, 29, and Jason Olivas, 26, have pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking charges and are waiting to be sentenced. 

Rubio-Cervantes came to the U.S. with his wife in 2011 when she fled the town of Praxedis G. Guerrero after four months as the chief of police. 

Valles made international headlines for being the only person willing to take over the town's Police Department in 2010, more than a year after her predecessor was kidnapped and his severed head was left in front of the police station. She was lauded as “the bravest woman in Mexico." Newsweek magazine included her in its list of 150 Women who Shake the World. A play about her life was staged in New York City.

Aileen B. Flores may be reached at 546-6362; aflores@elpasotimes.com; @AileenBFlores on Twitter.