A 29-year-old San Antonio resident, Shania Nichele Ellis, has been sentenced to 97 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for the attempted importation of methamphetamine. U.S. District Judge John A. Kazen handed down the sentence after Ellis pleaded guilty on December 18, 2024.

During the sentencing hearing, testimony revealed that Ellis knew she was traveling to Mexico to transport narcotics for money. Judge Kazen noted Ellis made a "terrible decision."

The incident occurred on August 25, 2024, when Ellis drove from Mexico to the Gateway to the Americas International Bridge 1 in Laredo. After entering the trusted traveler lane, authorities referred her to secondary inspection because she was not enrolled in the program.

During the inspection, officers discovered a hidden access door on the rear liftgate of her vehicle, revealing several bundles of narcotics. A K9 unit also alerted to the vehicle's doors, where more bundles were concealed within the panels.

Law enforcement ultimately seized a total of 44 bundles of methamphetamine, weighing 24.407 kilograms with a 97% purity level. They also found two bundles of cocaine weighing 655.6 grams and one bundle of black heroin weighing 494.5 grams.

The investigation revealed that a friend had attempted to recruit Ellis via social media to transport narcotics. Her car reportedly went missing while she was visiting that friend in Monterrey, Mexico, and was returned the following day when she was told to leave. As part of her plea, Ellis admitted to conspiring with at least one other person to import narcotics across the border.

Ellis will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility.

The investigation was conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew P. Hakala-Finch prosecuted the case.