Poteet Permanent Resident Sentenced to 108 Months for Meth Trafficking

Sabino Diaz-Silva, a 63-year-old Poteet permanent resident, was sentenced to 108 months in federal prison after federal court documents tied him to the distribution of four kilograms of pure methamphetamine on three separate occasions. The sentence was handed down in San Antonio by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas and reflects coordinated enforcement by federal and state authorities.

Court records show Diaz-Silva used his ties to Mexico to communicate directly with a Mexican source of supply regarding importation and distribution of methamphetamine in the United States. On two separate occasions in October 2022, Diaz-Silva sold one kilogram of methamphetamine each time to an undercover Drug Enforcement Administration agent. On December 5, 2022, the Texas Department of Public Safety stopped Diaz-Silva and discovered two kilograms of methamphetamine hidden inside the trunk of his vehicle. Federal prosecutors charged Diaz-Silva in an indictment filed October 4, 2023, and he was later taken into federal custody.

The quantity involved - four kilograms of pure methamphetamine - elevates the case beyond individual possession or small-scale street dealing and places it in the realm of trafficking that can supply multiple local distribution networks. For Val Verde County residents, the case underscores how supply chains that cross the border and reach small-town hubs can affect local public safety, healthcare services, and law enforcement resources. Methamphetamine-related crime and overdose trends in rural and border-adjacent counties often strain emergency responders and public health systems that already operate with limited capacity.

The prosecution highlights interagency cooperation between the DEA, Texas Department of Public Safety, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. That collaboration was central to undercover buys and the vehicle stop that produced the larger seizure. For local officials, the outcome serves both as a public-safety measure and as a reminder of ongoing cross-jurisdictional threats that require coordinated monitoring, intelligence sharing, and community reporting.

For neighbors in Del Rio and throughout Val Verde County, the sentence removes a supplier from circulation but does not eliminate demand-driven networks. Residents and community leaders may expect continued federal and state operations targeting supply lines, along with local enforcement efforts focused on prevention and response. To follow up or request information, contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Texas at USATXW.MediaInquiry@usdoj.gov.