Erick Chaparro-Gamboa, a 28-year-old from Denver, Colorado, was sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to transport 58 kilograms of cocaine into West Tennessee, according to an April 28 announcement by United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to address drug trafficking and promote community safety. The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee advances community safety through federal law enforcement and public outreach efforts, according to the official website.
Court records show that on August 9, 2025, Texas Department of Safety troopers stopped Chaparro-Gamboa’s vehicle and found the cocaine hidden in a speaker box. The drugs were determined to be destined for West Tennessee with an estimated street value of $750,000. Following his indictment on September 9, 2025 for conspiracy charges and his guilty plea on January 9, 2026, Chaparro-Gamboa received a sentence of 54 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release from United States District Judge Thomas L. Parker.
Dunavant said: “Criminal enterprises that distribute harmful drugs into West Tennessee can no longer hide. We are taking the fight to the drug trafficking organizations who want to poison our citizens for their greed and profit. I commend the outstanding investigative efforts by DEA and our other state and local law enforcement partners in this important and impactful case.” Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Louisville Field Division added: “Mexican drug traffickers are on notice…you and your poison are not welcome here, find a new line of work… This case highlights how effective law enforcement can be when we all work together, from the state and local level, up to the federal level.”
Multiple agencies contributed to this investigation including DEA offices in Memphis (Tennessee) and Amarillo (Texas), Homeland Security Investigations McAllen (Texas), Texas Department of Safety, and Germantown Police Department.
The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee is one of ninety-three offices under the U.S. Department of Justice according to its official website. The office handles prosecutions of federal crimes as well as civil matters involving defense or representation for the United States according to its official website. It serves all areas within Western District boundaries according to its official website, operating from offices located in Memphis and Jackson according to its official website. The district traces its origins back over two centuries according to its official website.
Assistant United States Attorney Gregory D. Allen prosecuted this case.