Ismael Delgado-Celis, a 37-year-old Mexican national illegally residing in Southeast Georgia, has been sentenced to 18 years (215 months) in federal prison for possession and intent to distribute over four pounds of pure methamphetamine. The conviction followed a jury trial where Delgado-Celis was found guilty of attempting to receive a package from Mexico disguised as a horse saddle, which upon inspection was found to contain methamphetamine. He was arrested after accepting the package on September 12, 2024.

The case highlights the federal system’s strict penalties, as there is no parole available. Law enforcement evidence showed that the saddle was specifically constructed to conceal the drugs, underscoring the lengths traffickers go to smuggle narcotics. Delgado-Celis’s sentencing serves as a significant enforcement action against meth distribution in the region.