BEAUMONT, Texas – On Jan. 27, 2020, Houston High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Executive Director Mike McDaniel and DEA Houston Division Acting Special Agent in Charge Steven S. Whipple are pleased to announce the establishment of a new HIDTA initiative in Beaumont, Jefferson County, Texas. The mission of the DEA-led...

WACO, Texas – On Jan. 24, 2020, a federal jury convicted 27–year-old Francisco Resendez Martinez of Gonzales, California, for attempting to deliver approximately 21 pounds of methamphetamine from California to Waco, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash and DEA Houston Division Acting Special Agent in Charge Steven S. Whipple. Jurors...

LAREDO, Texas – Jesus Homero Ortiz, a 27-year-old resident of Laredo has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute nearly eight kilograms of fentanyl, announced DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge Steven S. Whipple and U.S. Attorney Ryan K...

LOS ANGELES – The culmination of a four-year investigation resulted in a member of the Sinaloa Drug Cartel being sentenced on Dec. 6, 2019 to 180 months in federal prison for narcotics and weapons violations. Jesus Raul Salazar-Espinoza a.k.a. “Pedro,” 51, of Sinaloa, Mexico, was sentenced by United States District...

HOUSTON – Three Colombian citizens are set to appear in federal court for their alleged roles in a drug smuggling attempt involving more than 1,300 kilograms of cocaine, announced DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge Steven S. Whipple and U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Jesus Alfredo De La Cruz Orobio...

HOUSTON – A 34-year-old Mexican foreign national who illegally resided in Houston has been ordered to prison for conspiracy and meth smuggling, announced DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge Steven S. Whipple and U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. The jury deliberated for less than three hours following a three-day trial...

HOUSTON – An alleged ranking member of the Clan Del Golfo has been extradited to the United States to face numerous drug trafficking and money laundering charges, announced DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge Steven S. Whipple, along with U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick and FBI Special Agent in Charge...

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 39-year-old Florida man has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in a Rio Grande Valley-based drug conspiracy, announced DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge Steven S. Whipple and U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Roberto Santos-Gonzalez pleaded guilty on June 4 to conspiracy with intent...

LAREDO, Texas – A 24-year-old Laredo resident has admitted he conspired to possess with intent to distribute a large quantity of marijuana, announced Drug Enforcement Administration Acting Special Agent in Charge Steven S. Whipple and U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. On July 18, authorities observed six individuals carrying bundles near...

LAREDO, Texas – A 28-year-old Laredo native has admitted to conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute more than 135 kilograms of marijuana, announced DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge Steven S. Whipple and U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. On Sept. 13, authorities observed a man – later identified...