Former Marine sentenced to 12 years for smuggling drugs from Mexico into US

SAN DIEGO — A former U.S. Marine was sentenced to 12 years in prison for importing fentanyl and for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl, officials say.

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Roberto Salazar II, 26, pleaded guilty to the charges in October 2022, according to a news release from the U.S. attorney’s office.

Salazar was stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, which is located in San Diego, according to The Associated Press. Prosecutors claimed that Salazar was recruited before he joined the corps and while he was on active duty. He was believed to be recruited for smuggling trips across the border.

Prosecutors claimed Salazar would get cars that were driven to Mexico and were then located into the compartments in the engine, according to the AP. Couriers would then drive the cars back across the border. This reportedly began in 2015.

“This case involved a Marine who was supposed to protect and defend our country, but instead brought great harm to Americans by trafficking fentanyl and other dangerous drugs,” U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman said in the news release. “He also betrayed his solemn oath by recruiting other Marines to do the same. Through this case, the defendant has been held to account for his crimes and we have dismantled yet another link in the supply chain for the deadly narcotics that are indiscriminately killing members of our community.” Grossman thanked the prosecution team, Homeland Security Investigations, Customs and Border Protection and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service for their outstanding work on this case.

By the time Salazar was arrested, prosecutors claimed that he had become involved with drug trafficking and was trying to get a Mexican songwriter to write a son called “narcocorrido,” about him. According to the news release, it was a drug ballad.

“I wanted to study and became a soldier, but I liked the fast life better,” was one of the lyrics Salazar reportedly suggested to the songwriter, according to the news release.

Salazar personally recruited two former service members who were discharged from the Marine Corps at the time. The news release said that he told them what to do and paid them $2,000 each time they imported drugs.

“While disheartened by an individual who hid in the ranks of our prestigious U.S. military, this should serve as a warning to any would-be narcotics smugglers, that you cannot hide your nefarious crimes and you will be held accountable,” said Chad Plantz, Special Agent in Charge of HSI San Diego in the news release. “Today’s sentencing is a result of ongoing HSI investigation, in collaboration with our law enforcement partners, to disrupt and dismantle transnational criminal organizations and their importation of deadly narcotics into the U.S.”

“Mr. Salazar betrayed his oath to the Marine Corps and posed a significant threat to our national security by participating in an illegal operation to smuggle fentanyl into the United States,” Special Agent in Charge Todd Battaglia of the NCIS Marine Corps West Field Office said in a statement. “NCIS and our partners remain committed to fully investigating all allegations of criminality within the ranks that threaten military readiness and jeopardize the safety of our community members.”

“Through his actions Mr. Salazar violated his duty as a Marine, dishonored the public’s trust and promoted conditions that endangered the safety of the people,” said Sidney K. Aki, Director of Field Operations for San Diego Field Office in the news release. “National security efforts, which include narcotics interdictions, must remain our primary focus. Today’s sentencing is a clear indication of the strong partnership that continues in San Diego between federal agencies.”

The other two defendants, Jose Ernesto Lopez, 24, and Juan Carlos Zepeda-Santos, 40, were both sentenced as well, per the news release. Lopez has been sentenced to 70 months and Zepeda-Santos has been sentenced to 33 months.