A couple from the Coachella Valley community of Thermal who trafficked illegal pesticides across the U.S.-Mexico border and sold them in California and beyond were sentenced Wednesday in San Diego.

Otilio Rodriguez Toledo and his wife, Alicia Aispuro Hernandez, pleaded guilty in 2023 to conspiracy to smuggle and distribute unlicensed pesticides and veterinary drugs.

During a sentencing hearing Wednesday at U.S. District Court in San Diego, Judge John Houston imposed a term of five months in federal prison and three years of supervised release, or probation, for Toledo. Hernandez avoided prison as a result of time served in jail awaiting disposition of the case, but she was ordered to serve 18 months’ supervised release.

Both defendants were also ordered to pay the government $2.19 milli

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