Cartel Associate Convicted of Massive Meth Trafficking Operation
DALLAS - A major Dallas drug trafficker was convicted at trial of dealing methamphetamine out of his car dealership, announced DEA Special Agent in Charge Eduardo A. Chávez.
After four days of trial, a federal jury convicted Marco Antonio Gonzalez, 42, of one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, two counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Today’s conviction is an affirmation of DEA resolve to keep methamphetamines out of our communities, said Eduardo A. Chávez, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Dallas Field Division. “Methamphetamines continues to be the number one threat in North Texas. DEA and all our law enforcement partners will continue to hold those like Mr. Gonzalez accountable for their actions.”
According to evidence presented at trial, Mr. Gonzalez, an associate of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) who called himself “Speedy,” dealt methamphetamine out of Hampton Motors, a car dealership he owned. He and several coconspirators stored large quantities of narcotics at the dealership and used proceeds of drug sales to purchase vehicles in order to disguise the source of the funds.
The defendants used homes in Dallas and DeSoto to serve as laboratories for the recrystallization of methamphetamine, and often carried firearms on those premises. Agents testified at trial that members of the cartel trafficked thousands of kilograms of methamphetamine this way.
During trial, prosecutors discovered that Mr. Gonzalez threatened to kill one of his co-conspirators, who was slated to testify against him. The threatened man went on to testify anyway, saying that Mr. Gonzalez used his dealership as a front for large-scale drug deals.
Marco Gonzalez now faces up to life federal prison. Ten of his co-conspirators entered guilty pleas prior to trial.
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Dallas Field Division and the Dallas Police Department conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Garland Police Department and the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys P.J. Meitl and John Kull prosecuted the case. U.S. District Judge Brantley Starr presided over trial.
