This indictment and arrests are the result of a joint investigation with our local, state and federal partners to neutralize a dangerous criminal organization in Texas, said DEA Special Agent in Charge Whipple. Joshua Hamilton, 30, was arrested on a charge of felon in possession of a firearm. A federal grand jury indictment returned in San Antonio charges the following defendants with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine: Authorities call it the largest. She traveled from Houston to San Antonio with two children in her vehicle. LOUIS - A man from Texas and a woman from St. Louis were indicted Wednesday on drug conspiracy charges after multiple kilograms of suspected fentanyl and methamphetamine were found during a traffic stop on Interstate 44 in St. Louis County. SAN ANTONIO - Twenty five men and women are in custody after authorities busted a drug distribution operation in the San Antonio area Thursday, according to officials. If you need help with the Public File, call 210-351-1241. "No tears. In interviews after his son's killing, Moreira placed blame on narcoempresarios, businessmen with ties to the cartels who allowed the gangs to act with impunity. He quickly left Mexico for the U.S. and showed up in East Texas in February 2012 where he was again arrested. Upon conviction of the drug conspiracy charge, Ojeda, Juan Estrada, Lus Estrada, Rodriguez, Hernandez, Acevedo, Villarreal and Flores face between 10 years and life in federal prison; Lumbreras, Casas, DeLuna and Pena face between five and 40 years in federal prison; and Cuellar faces up to 20 years in federal prison. It was during this search that deputies said they arrested Jose Ovalle, 66, who had an active warrant for a charge of possession of a controlled substance, and Francisco Menchaca, 45, who had 2 kilograms of meth and 138 grams of cocaine, according to the sheriffs office. The specific mission of the Houston/South Texas OCDETF Strike Force is to disrupt and dismantle the drug trafficking organizations headed by designated Consolidated Priority Organization Targets (CPOTs), Regional Priority Organization Targets (RPOTs), and their affiliates that impact Houston and south Texas. A good liar. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Ojeda faces a mandatory five years in federal prison on the gun charge upon conviction. SAN ANTONIO Six people are in custody following a drug bust in east Bexar County earlier this week, according to the Bexar County Sheriffs Office. Martinez, Robles, and Jose Garcia face between 15 years and life upon conviction of conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute. Karen Lastiri was arrested after Bexar County Sheriffs deputies found 52.28 kilograms of meth in her vehicle during a traffic stop, according to court documents. On Wednesday, a joint task force including the DEA along with the sheriff's office arrested 41-year-old Francisco Ortiz. He is the father of Ashley Villarreal, who at 14 was fatally shot by DEA agents conducting a stakeout in San Antonio in February 2003. San Antonio woman among 14 charged with conspiracy to distribute meth and cocaine, Privately run zoos in Texas adapt to new roles. All rights reserved. I was shocked, Ibarra said of her boyfriend's arrest. When there's two or three or four or five layers of individuals, that's called layering of ownership, he said. Just a few weeks ago, 180 miles from the border, in the quiet San Antonio suburban town of Boerne, Texas, a vehicle carrying nine people two stuffed in the trunk was stopped for a traffic. Map: See the San Antonio ties of Coahuilan politicians and businessmen, some of whom prosecutors say laundered millions of dollars in South Texas. Ashley Mendez, 28, and Ruben Zambrano, 38, were taken into custody. BCSO says as deputies were approaching the residence, Mendez was getting in a vehicle to leave. "Some may not have any narcotic in it, others may have too much and thats when your going to overdose, and these are the stories you hear, someone goes to a party, and never done anything, said Sorianello. If you need help with the Public File, call 210-351-1241. Properties that the feds moved to seize in the case suggested they were looking at something more than a simple dope smuggling investigation. These arrests send a strong and unified message that these crimes will not be tolerated in our communities and those who commit these offenses will be brought to justice, said DEA Special Agent in Charge Comeaux. Today, the Zetas are their own criminal organization engaged in a wide range of illegal activities including drug trafficking, prostitution, human trafficking and distribution of counterfeit goods. And it might not have been you. Despite the tony digs, the raid looked like any other drug case. When Humberto came into power, RCG was tiny, said Jorge Rosales Saade, an official with the opposition PAN party in Coahuila. The DEA, U.S. The lawsuits sought millions of dollars in bank accounts in Texas and Bermuda as well as the commercial strip center on U.S. 281, the pharmacy on Stone Oak Parkway, a storage center on Loop 1604, a condo on South Padre Island and most of a commercial block in Brownsville that prosecutors said was purchased with money stolen from Coahuila's treasury. Lock In 2008, Humberto Moreira named Gonzlez Trevio the state of Coahuila's spokesman in San Antonio, but it's unclear what duties he performed. The female driver was identified as Shauna Madrid, 36, from Roswell, New Mexico. Secure .gov websites use HTTPSA lock ( Some sit empty today. Erik Jason Pena, 41, of San Antonio; and Prosecutors in Corpus Christi filed a lawsuit in late September accusing Torres, who owns a house near Houston, of using JP Morgan Chase Bank accounts to transfer millions of dollars from Mexico to Texas, then turning around and sending it offshore. Among the businessmen was a scowling Coronado, Villarreal's brother-in-law who was detained in East Texas, and Francisco Xavier Flores Valdez, a nephew of the Moreira brothers. Guillermo Moyado, 38, and Joaquin Cardenas, 39, were arrested during the traffic stop after deputies seized five kilos of black tar heroin and five kilos of methamphetamine from their vehicle, according to the BCSO. Twelve Indicted for Drug Trafficking in San Antonio Area Villarreal fraudulently acquired Mexican pesos totaling over $35 million in U.S. dollars and funneled the monies into United States bank accounts, federal prosecutors in Corpus Christi wrote in a court filing. They had cast Alex as a despicable human being. Yesterday, federal, state and local authorities arrested nine defendants. He asked for an investigation of those persons, many of whom are part of society and are well-known and who have financial relations with (organized crime) and who have made their fortunes through them. Deputies searched a home Tuesday in the. If he gets extradited we will (fight the criminal case), but right now he has not been extradited, so he's still in Mexico, Canales said. Tag: Drug Bust - NBC 7 San Diego The Schertz Police Department stated in a social . Copyright 2023 KSAT.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. The indictment alleges that the defendants conspired since January 2020 to distribute cocaine. More than $1 billion worth of cocaine has been seized at the Philadelphia Port on Tuesday, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.They say the drug bust netted approximately 16.5 tons of the . Camouflaged among those escaping the more recent problems in the state are drug traffickers, unscrupulous businessmen and high-ranking Coahuila officials who laundered more than $35 million in kickbacks for state contracts, U.S. authorities say. Here's What's Up in San Diego County for July 9, 2022. (Robert McLeroy/Staff). Moyer said he didn't buy them. Copyright 2021 by KSAT - All rights reserved. It's a very complicated matter that's taking a lot of time, but there are bank records and property records and it's taking a while to sift through all the facts to show he did not do what they claim he did.. Now he's found a new voice in recovery. Mark Anthony Ojeda, 33, of San Antonio; Javier Garcia Lopez, age 29 of San Antonio; You have to have a federal and state license for that. Zoos in the past were judged by who had the most animals, San Antonio Zoo chief Tim Morrow says. Its disgraceful.. Moreira's attorneys wouldn't comment for this report, but after Forbes magazine included him on a list of Mexican politicians accused of corruption, Mexico City lawyer Christian F. Zinser Cieslik wrote to the publication, saying the former governor had been exonerated in an investigation by the Mexican attorney general's office. By then, Villarreal disappeared. Marshals Service, Bexar County Sheriffs Office, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and Kendall County Sheriffs Office conducted this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation called Operation Dirty Confidential. SAN ANTONIO (WOAI) More than $500,000 worth of cocaine was seized following the successful completion of a multi-agency operation in Texas. All of them were indicted on federal drug. One victim reportedly paid more than $12,000 to get to the San Antonio area, according to the sheriff. The bust comes after a similar incident involving the same suspects just weeks ago when deputies found several ounces of narcotics and cash in plain sight at the residence in the 100 block of Trudell Road, according to Sheriff Javier Salazar. The gang, he said, was responsible for a wave of violence that killed tens of thousand in Mexico, many in Coahuila. Four others were arrested after deputies returned to the residence with a search warrant and found two more kilos of heroin. The massive drug bust took place during a traffic stop in San Clemente, a wealthy enclave about 75 miles inland from the U.S.-Mexico border in San Diego, multiple Border Patrol sources told Fox News. The indictment accuses the defendants of conspiring to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine in the Midwestern and Southern U.S. During a year-long investigation culminating in coordinated raids this week, law enforcement officers led by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration seized 23 kilos of cocaine, more than 30 pounds of hydroponic marijuana, 100 kilos of methamphetamine, along with firearms and $359,000 in cash. Over the next few months, Villarreal, Moreira who by that time had left Coahuila to become the national leader of the PRI as it was poised to retake Mexico's presidency and Torres, who had taken over the governorship, were forced to leave their respective jobs. Coahuila corruption and drug ties spread influence to San Antonio 01 Mar 2023 22:30:08 Gonzlez Trevio wouldn't comment and officials at the Mexican Consulate and in San Antonio's International Relations Office said they're not familiar with him. Coronado and Flores Valdez, the Moreiras' nephew, were in San Antonio responding to a request by Bexar County to depose representatives of the LLCs that Villarreal's family members manage. This comes as state officials said they've seen a surge in fentanyl seizures with DPS reporting a 950% increase from 2020. Online reports can only be completed for the following crimes where no weapon was used and no suspect information is available. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. It is important to note that an indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. Michael Barron, age 39 of San Antonio; He pleaded guilty to operating a money transmitting business without a license, Barrera said. Deputies detained Ashley Mendez, 28, and Ruben Zambrano, 38, in a West Bexar County drug bust. Madilyn Marie Alvarado, age 26 of Del Rio In a major study released Saturday, March 4, 2023, Nexletol reduced the risk of heart attacks and other health problems in people who can't take drugs called statins, the main cholesterol-lowering . Roberto Casimiro Gonzlez Trevio signed the deed of sale for the property and he's listed as the trust's sole managing member, but his name does not appear on public records filed by the LLCs. Deputies detained her and found 5 THC vape pens on the front seat, authorities said. Matthew Villa, 51, of San Antonio Prosecutors decided not to seek the death penalty in this case, and Newman handed down the harshest possible sentence he could consecutive life sentences without parole. Sorianello said he couldn't divulge how they were able to track down the suspected drug dealer or if additional arrests are pending. They didn't do any mining.. I looked in his eyes. First, the government filed a civil complaint and, when (Torres) contested this civil forfeiture by filing a motion to dismiss, then the government brought an indictment over the same subject matter all with the purpose of obstructing the ability to defend oneself against a groundless forfeiture.. Three suspects arrested, six victims rescued in human smuggling bust Copyright 2022 by KSAT - All rights reserved. Philadelphia drug bust: Feds seize over $1 billion worth of - CBS News DRUG BUST: The Crystal City Police - News 4 San Antonio | Facebook Aug. 2, 2014 Updated: Aug. 4, 2014 11 a.m. Facebook Twitter Email. An official website of the United States government. Then, starting in 2006, he and his brother, Roberto Casimiro Gonzlez Trevio, went on a spending spree. The Bexar County Sheriff's Office conducted the drug bust in the 500 block of Porter Street. It is important to note that an indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. But not good enough, Moyer said. Coordinated effort by law enforcement leads to major drug bust in USAA wants some remote employees in the office three days Texas Vista owner has threatened hospital shutdown before, VIA adding 8 new buses to its fleet and theyre all electric, BCSO: 3 arrested after 6 smuggled people, 3 stash houses found, Bexar County deputy reunites African tortoise with owners, Gunmen blast 75 rounds at Northwest Side apartment. In another court filing, the feds wrote that Flores' case is somehow tied to their investigation of money allegedly stolen from the Coahuila government and laundered in Texas. The head of south central Texas DEA shares new insight on the. Gonzlez Fernandez, the son, has pleaded not guilty to the drug charges. "While we are certainly celebrating this case for obvious reasons, we're also quite alarmed by the fact that this drug is present in these quantities in this area, not something that that surprises us, but it's still troubling nonetheless," said Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar. Monday February 10, 2003. The press conference took place around 11:45 a.m. Friday in the 500 block of Porter. Jason Buch, Guillermo Contreras, San Antonio Express-News. The government is abusing its power, Canales wrote in one filing. The DEA contended that the car accelerated toward the agents, who opened fire not knowing that the teenager was behind the wheel. Six people are in custody following a drug bust in east Bexar County earlier this week, according to the Bexar County Sheriffs Office. Now, said Herberg, the No. Prosecutor Creighton Waters noted that stare each day in court. Oswaldo Jesus Lopez, age 26 of Laredo; Both arrests were in connection with the drug bust, the sheriffs office said. But they had a mountain of circumstantial evidence, including the video putting Murdaugh at the scene of the killings five minutes before his wife and son stopped using their cellphones forever. Jesus Gerardo Vasquez, age 19 of San Antonio; Intellectuals and landholders from the state, which borders Texas, took refuge here during the Mexican Revolution in the early 1900s. Twelve Indicted for Drug Trafficking in San Antonio Area It makes the ownership of properties more difficult for investigators and regulators to trace, however, and also could be used to disguise the source of money in the original purpose. A locked padlock Can't take statins? New pill cuts cholesterol, heart attacks Frank Zepeda aka Pancho, 51, of San Antonio The drug bust led deputies to search another residence in the 100 block of Seashell Place in west San Antonio. Fernando Salazar, a recently elected senator from Coahuila who's in the opposing National Action Party, or PAN, said he thinks the problem goes well beyond the former treasurer and interim governor. The indictment also charges Ojeda with two counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Photo: KTSA/Dennis Foley. Twenty-Two Indicted for Drug Trafficking in San Antonio Area Drug dealing and violence go hand in hand. On an October morning last year, residents in . Drugs worth millions found in suburban Bexar County meth lab, at - KTSA Further back, in the 1800s, Coahuila y Tejas was one state under Mexican rule. Updated: 11:05 PM CST November 13, 2020 SAN ANTONIO Nearly $30 million worth of drugs are seized from a Bexar County home. They whisked him to San Antonio, where prosecutors unsealed an indictment charging him with another count of money laundering. A federal grand jury indictment unsealed today charges the following defendants with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance: Matthew Noe Arteaga, age 35 of San Antonio; The juror agreed with prosecutors that the key piece of evidence was a video locked on his sons cellphone for a year video shot minutes before the killings at the same kennels near where the bodies would be found. Lock Jacqueline Alvarez, 57, of San Antonio The DEA said her father may have used her as a decoy. 25 people arrested after massive drug bust in San Antonio area - KSAT In December, six Coahuila businessmen gathered at the Hotel Contessa in downtown San Antonio. Deputies seized four kilograms of heroin and two kilograms of cocaine in the home in addition to multiple firearms, thousands of dollars of cash and expensive clothing. The nighttime stakeout targeted her father. Nowadays, its habitats, conservation and education. According to court records, Haggard was convicted in 2006 and sentenced to four years imprisonment for aggravated robbery in Bexar County. Jason Gutierrez aka Big Mac, 37, of San Antonio The lawyer he initially hired to defend him said the family isn't involved in any crimes. Copyright 2023 KSAT.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. The elder Villarreal was arrested in a DEA operation in which his daughter was shot and critically wounded by federal agents. We will continue to work closely with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners in order to enhance the quality of life for the citizens in the San Antonio region.. Good Morning San Antonio. Moreira has not been charged, but his political career came to an abrupt end in 2011 when it was revealed that under his governorship Coahuila had racked up nearly $3 billion in debt. All of the defendants except Albelardo Oviedo are also charged in substantive counts in the indictment related to specific instances of drug trafficking that occurred throughout the course of the conspiracy. Sheriff's deputies there said they stopped Villarreal, his wife and brother-in-law Oswaldo Coronado traveling with $67,000. Joe Angel Villarreal later was sentenced to 19 years in federal prison for leading a large cocaine-trafficking group. Albelardo Oviedo, age 29 of San Antonio. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. This ex-lawmaker's Texas drug bust was national news. Now he's found a Zoos in the past were judged by who had the most animals, San Antonio Zoo chief Tim Morrow says. Bryan Anthony Brown, age 33 of San Antonio; Tuesday, June 22nd 2021. The DEA, FBI, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Texas Department of Public Safety, San Antonio Police Department, New Braunfels Police Department, University of Texas San Antonio Police Department, Gonzales Police Department, Comal County Sheriffs Office and the Guadalupe County Sheriffs Office conducted this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation called Operation Brujas Blunder. They worked for him. Roberto Casimiro Gonzlez Trevio's properties are nominally owned by a complex structure of companies. Agents arrested Lumbreras on Monday night. A federal grand jury indictment unsealed today charges the following defendants with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance: Francisco Garza aka Pancho, 52, of San Antonio An indictment accused Ral Gonzlez Fernandez, a 42-year-old restaurateur who was born in Del Rio, of conspiring to distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine and possessing more than 500 grams of the drug. Lawyers for both men maintain they're innocent. Michelle Zamarripa, 59, of San Antonio This operation is part of an OCDETF Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Border Patrol agents based in the San Diego Sector seized 232 pounds of fentanyl with a street value of about $3 million from a single vehicle, officials announced on Monday.. Fernando Jose Moreno, age 45 of San Antonio;