BAY CITY, MI — An alleged drug mule has pleaded guilty to a federal charge of bringing pounds of methamphetamine from Mexico to the Saginaw area.

Alexandra O. Gracia, 37, on the morning of Tuesday, Dec. 7, appeared before U.S. District Magistrate Judge Patricia T. Morris and pleaded guilty to one count of possessing 500 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. A conviction of the charge mandates a 10-year minimum prison sentence that can be extended up to life. Following imprisonment, supervised release is to span an additional five years.

In accordance with her plea agreement, Gracia admitted that she drove a meth-loaded Toyota Prius with an Arizona license plate to Michigan. Gracia arrived in the area on the afternoon of Sept. 8, stopping at the Barnes & Noble bookstore parking lot at 3311 Tittabawassee Road in Saginaw Township.

Gracia had acquired the illicit stimulant from a source in Arizona and was to deliver it to another person in Saginaw.

Court records indicate the Michigan State Police in August learned a 35-year-old man in Mexico was planning to send a delivery of drugs to Saginaw. At the time, the 35-year-old man was under investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosive, according to an affidavit authored by an ATF special agent contained in court files.

Law enforcement officials were surveilling the bookstore’s parking lot when Gracia pulled in. They then followed the Toyota when Gracia drove to an abandoned residence at 1319 Irving St. in Saginaw.

Law officers approached the vehicle and arrested Gracia.

In all, officers found four packages of meth in the Toyota, after which the car was towed to a secure parking lot. The next day, officers found two more packets of meth in the vehicle, the affidavit states.

The meth in the six packages added up to 10.1 pounds, the affidavit states.

Gracia requested a lawyer after being read her Miranda rights and was not interviewed by officers, the affidavit states.

U.S. District Judge Thomas L. Ludington is to sentence Gracia at 10:30 a.m. on March 31.