Mid gets nearly 10 years for pot smuggling - Navy News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

Mid gets nearly 10 years for pot smuggling

A Naval Academy midshipman was sent to the brig for nearly 10 years after he was busted trying to import more than 150 pounds of marijuana across the border from Mexico.

Midshipman 2nd Class Juan Domingo Alonso was convicted by a military judge Tuesday in San Diego on charges including conspiracy to import and distribute marijuana, conspiracy to commit burglary and armed robbery and weapons charges, a Navy official said.

The 24-year-old from North Hollywood, Calif., was arrested June 10 by U.S. Customs officials at the San Ysidro port entry. They searched his rented car and found 153 pounds of marijuana, Navy documents show.

Alonso had gone to Tijuana, Mexico, that day even though he didn’t have permission from his officer-in-charge to travel there, according to court documents.

The judge, Cmdr. Kevin O’Neil, sentenced Alonso to 118 months in the brig, dismissal from the Navy, and forfeiture of all pay and allowances. He was immediately taken to a military correctional facility, according to a statement from Navy Region Southwest.

Navy prosecutors also said Alonzo on June 5 broke into a home wielding a 12-gauge shotgun and a .38-caliber revolver and beat up a man before running off with two suitcases loaded with about 120 pounds of marijuana and money orders worth $12,000, Navy documents show.

Prosecutors also said he sold about 120 pounds of the pot in or around Memphis, Tenn., shortly before his arrest.

Alonso enlisted in 2006 before entering the academy.