Monica Gonzales, a 37-year-old resident of McKinney, Texas, has been sentenced to 35 years in prison for her involvement in drug dealing, announced Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis's office.
The conviction stems from an incident on May 30, 2023, when Detective Joe Arp of the McKinney Police Department conducted an undercover narcotics operation at a Super 8 Motel in McKinney. Detective Arp observed a hand-to-hand drug transaction involving Gonzales in a vehicle. Following the vehicle, a traffic violation led to a stop, where Officer Cary Wittwer detected a strong smell of marijuana. Upon searching Gonzales, officers found two bags of methamphetamine weighing a total of 34.9 grams.
During the trial, it was revealed that Gonzales had a criminal history dating back to 2006, including previous convictions for drug offenses. Officer Wittwer also testified about a prior incident where Gonzales' 15-year-old son was found in possession of methamphetamine.
The jury, considering Gonzales' criminal record and the severity of the offense, handed down a 35-year prison sentence.
"We've seen this before: a repeat offender who hasn’t changed despite multiple prison sentences. Now, it seems she’s passing these harmful habits to her son, or at the very least, not protecting him from this destructive path. Rest assured, my office will not back down. We’re committed to clearing our streets of harmful influences," stated District Attorney Willis.
Assistant Criminal District Attorneys Abbie Adkins and Luke Calhoun prosecuted the case, with assistance from District Attorney Investigator Michael Coleman.
